Shloka 46

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

यस्मात्परस्त्रीहरणाय सोम त्वया कृतं युद्धमतीव भीमम् पापग्रहस्त्वं भविता जनेषु शान्तो ऽप्यलं नूनमथो सितान्ते भार्यामिमामर्पय वाक्पतेस्त्वं न चावमानो ऽस्ति परस्वहारे //

Transliteration

yasmātparastrīharaṇāya soma tvayā kṛtaṃ yuddhamatīva bhīmam pāpagrahastvaṃ bhavitā janeṣu śānto 'pyalaṃ nūnamatho sitānte bhāryāmimāmarpaya vākpatestvaṃ na cāvamāno 'sti parasvahāre //

Translation

Since, O Soma, for the sake of abducting another man’s wife you have waged a most dreadful war, you will become among people a baleful influence—an evil omen. Even if you are pacified, it is surely not enough. Therefore, before the final end comes, return this wife to Vākpati (Bṛhaspati); for in taking what belongs to another there is no true honor.

Word by Word

• yasmāt: because

• para-strī-haraṇāya: for abducting another’s wife

• soma: O Soma (Moon-god/King Soma)

• tvayā: by you

• kṛtam: done/undertaken

• yuddham: war

• atīva: exceedingly

• bhīmam: terrible

• pāpa-grahaḥ: evil influence/inauspicious “seizer” (baleful force)

• tvam: you

• bhavitā: will become

• janeṣu: among people

• śāntaḥ api: even if pacified

• alam: sufficient/enough

• nūnam: surely

• atha: therefore/then

• sitānte: at the white/end (understood as ‘at the end/at the final time’—i.e., before ruin is complete)

• bhāryām: wife

• imām: this (woman)

• arpaya: return/hand over

• vākpateḥ: of Vākpati (Bṛhaspati)

• tvam: you

• na ca: and not

• avamānaḥ: honor/esteem (or absence of disgrace)

• asti: is

• para-sva-hāre: in taking another’s property

Speaker

• A moral admonisher in the narrative (likely a sage/authority figure addressing Soma in the Soma–Tārā–Bṛhaspati episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Vākpati (Bṛhaspati)
• bhāryā (Tārā implied)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Nīti
• Parastrī-haraṇa
• Adharma
• Puranic ethics

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about cosmic Pralaya; it uses the language of ‘end/ruin’ as a moral warning that adharma (abduction and unjust war) leads to social and personal downfall.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames a core dharma rule: do not seize another’s wife or property. For rulers, it condemns wars driven by personal desire; for householders, it stresses restraint, restitution, and avoiding dishonor through parasva-haraṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple, or ritual procedure is taught in this verse; its significance is ethical—restoring rightful relations and property to maintain social order (dharma).