Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Purūravas Witnesses the Sports of Apsarases and Gandharvas; Attains the Grace...

Devanagari script

स त्वाश्रमपदे रम्ये त्यक्ताहारपरिच्छदः क्रीडाविहारं गन्धर्वैः पश्यन्नप्सरसां सह //

Transliteration

sa tvāśramapade ramye tyaktāhāraparicchadaḥ krīḍāvihāraṃ gandharvaiḥ paśyannapsarasāṃ saha //

Translation

There, in that delightful hermitage setting, he—having renounced food and all belongings—watched the revelry and sportive amusements of the Apsarases together with the Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• आश्रमपदे (āśramapade): at the hermitage-place

• रम्ये (ramye): lovely, charming

• त्यक्ताहारपरिच्छदः (tyaktāhāra-paricchadaḥ): having abandoned food and possessions/accoutrements

• क्रीडाविहारम् (krīḍā-vihāram): play and recreation, sporting diversions

• गन्धर्वैः (gandharvaiḥ): with/by the Gandharvas (celestial musicians)

• पश्यन् (paśyan): seeing, observing

• अप्सरसाम् (apsarasām): of the Apsarases (celestial nymphs)

• सह (saha): together with.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the episode (likely within the Manu–Matsya narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Ashrama
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Tags

• Tapas
• Vairagya
• Ashrama
• Apsaras
• Gandharva

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights an ascetic setting where renunciation is tested amid celestial pleasures, a common Purāṇic motif used to frame dharma and self-mastery rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By contrasting renunciation (tyaktāhāra-paricchadaḥ) with alluring entertainments, the verse underscores the ethical ideal of restraint—relevant to kings and householders as disciplined governance of the senses and avoidance of indulgence that weakens duty (dharma).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; the key takeaway is the āśrama (hermitage) milieu, which functions as a dharmic space for tapas and spiritual discipline rather than a technical architectural prescription.