Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

काचित्पृष्ठकृतादित्या केशनिस्तोयकारिणी शिलातलगता भर्त्रा दृष्टा कामार्तचक्षुषा //

Transliteration

kācitpṛṣṭhakṛtādityā keśanistoyakāriṇī śilātalagatā bhartrā dṛṣṭā kāmārtacakṣuṣā //

Translation

A certain woman, with the sun at her back, stood upon a stone slab letting water drip from her loosened hair; her husband beheld her then with eyes troubled by desire.

Word by Word

• kācit: a certain (woman)

• pṛṣṭha-kṛta-ādityā: having the sun positioned behind her (lit. ‘sun made at the back’)

• keśa-nistoya-kāriṇī: causing water to flow/drip from (her) hair

• śilā-tala-gatā: standing/placed on a stone surface (stone slab)

• bhartrā: by (her) husband

• dṛṣṭā: seen

• kāma-ārta-cakṣuṣā: with eyes afflicted/tormented by desire

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) recounting an episode within the Matsya Purāṇa

Entities Mentioned

• Husband (bhartṛ)
• Woman (kācit strī)
• Sun (āditya)

Tags

• Narrative
• Desire
• Householder-life
• Ethics
• Puranic-story

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya or cosmology; it is a narrative snapshot focused on human emotion (kāma) and perception.

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

By portraying the husband’s desire-aroused gaze, the verse supports the Purāṇic ethical theme that householders should recognize sense-impulses and practice restraint and right conduct rather than being driven by passion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule is taught directly; the only physical detail is a ‘stone slab/surface’ (śilā-tala), used as scene-setting rather than architectural prescription.