Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Paurava Genealogy: Bharata

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः स गर्भेण कुपितः प्रत्युवाच ह यस्मात्त्वमीदृशे काले सर्वभूतेप्सिते सति अभिषेधसि तस्मात्त्वं तमो दीर्घं प्रवेक्ष्यसि //

Transliteration

evamuktaḥ sa garbheṇa kupitaḥ pratyuvāca ha yasmāttvamīdṛśe kāle sarvabhūtepsite sati abhiṣedhasi tasmāttvaṃ tamo dīrghaṃ pravekṣyasi //

Translation

Thus addressed, he—angered from within the womb—replied: “Since, at such a time, when what is desired by all beings is at hand, you obstruct it, therefore you shall enter long darkness.”

Word by Word

• evam-uktaḥ: thus spoken to/addressed

• saḥ: he

• garbheṇa: from/by the womb (i.e., while in the womb)

• kupitaḥ: enraged

• pratyuvāca: replied

• ha: indeed

• yasmāt: since/because

• tvam: you

• īdṛśe kāle: at such a time

• sarva-bhūta-īpsite: desired by all beings

• sati: being present/when it is the case

• abhiṣedhasi: you prohibit/obstruct

• tasmāt: therefore

• tvam: you

• tamaḥ: darkness

• dīrgham: long/for a long time

• pravekṣyasi: you will enter (go into).

Speaker

• An unborn child (speaking from the womb) cursing the addressed person (contextually a prohibitor/obstructor in the episode of Adhyaya 49)

Tags

• Dharma
• Curse
• Consequences
• Narrative
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic Pralaya; it uses “darkness” (tamas) as a moral-spiritual consequence, indicating a fall into ignorance/suffering due to wrongful obstruction.

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

It warns against unjustly prohibiting or blocking what is legitimately sought by beings—an ethical principle relevant to rulers (fair governance) and householders (non-harm, restraint from spiteful denial).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its focus is ethical causality (karma) expressed through the idiom of a curse leading to “long darkness.”