Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

पुष्पोच्चयप्रसक्तानां क्रीडन्तीनां यथासुखम् चेष्टा नानाविधाकाराः पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति //

Transliteration

puṣpoccayaprasaktānāṃ krīḍantīnāṃ yathāsukham ceṣṭā nānāvidhākārāḥ paśyannapi na paśyati //

Translation

Even while looking, one does not truly see—just as those absorbed in gathering flowers, playing at ease, move about in many different ways, yet remain inattentive to what is before them.

Word by Word

• पुष्प (puṣpa): flower

• उच्चय (uccaya): collecting, piling up

• प्रसक्तानाम् (prasaktānām): of those attached/absorbed

• क्रीडन्तीनाम् (krīḍantīnām): of those playing/sporting

• यथा-सुखम् (yathāsukham): as they please, at ease

• चेष्टा (ceṣṭā): activity, movement, behavior

• नाना-विध-आकाराः (nānā-vidha-ākārāḥ): of many kinds/forms

• पश्यन् (paśyan): seeing, looking

• अपि (api): even

• न (na): not

• पश्यति (paśyati): sees, perceives (truly).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu in a didactic passage)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vairagya
• Moha
• Mindfulness
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it teaches a psychological principle—attachment and play can cloud perception, a cause of ignorance that, in broader Purana teaching, keeps beings bound through cycles of time.

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

It warns that comfort and distraction can make one negligent; a king or householder must stay attentive to duties—protection, justice, rites, and ethical conduct—rather than being absorbed in pleasures and trivial pursuits.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is specified; the takeaway is general: ritual and governance require alertness—mere outward activity without attentive awareness becomes ineffective.