Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

मासस्य मध्ये स नृपः प्रविष्टस्तदाश्रमं रत्नसहस्रचित्रम् / तोयाशनस्तत्र ह्युवास मासं यावत्सितान्तो नृप फाल्गुनस्य //

Transliteration

māsasya madhye sa nṛpaḥ praviṣṭastadāśramaṃ ratnasahasracitram / toyāśanastatra hyuvāsa māsaṃ yāvatsitānto nṛpa phālgunasya //

Translation

Midway through the month, the king entered that hermitage, wondrously adorned with thousands of gems. There, taking only water as his sustenance, he stayed a full month—until the end of the bright fortnight of Phālguna, O king.

Word by Word

• māsasya madhye: in the middle of the month

• sa nṛpaḥ: that king

• praviṣṭaḥ: entered

• tad-āśramam: that hermitage/āśrama

• ratna-sahasra-citram: decorated (citram) with thousands (sahasra) of jewels (ratna)

• toya-āśanaḥ: one whose ‘food’ is water (i.e., subsisting on water)

• tatra: there

• hi: indeed

• uvāsa: stayed/dwelt

• māsam: for a month

• yāvat: until

• sita-antaḥ: the end of the bright (white) fortnight

• nṛpa: O king

• phālgunasya: of (the month) Phālguna.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing events to the listening sages (frame narrative typical of Purāṇas)

Entities Mentioned

• nṛpa (the king)
• āśrama (hermitage)
• Phālguna (lunar month)

Tags

• Matsya Purana narrative episode
• Royal conduct
• Vrata and austerity
• Ashrama life
• Phalguna bright fortnight

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on a king’s disciplined stay in a gem-adorned hermitage and his observance of austerity (subsisting on water) through a specific calendrical period.

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

It highlights rājadhrama ideals of self-restraint and reverence for āśrama culture: a king can temporarily adopt ascetic discipline (toyāśana) and dwell in a hermitage, showing humility, control of senses, and respect for sacred time observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, the āśrama is portrayed as ‘ratna-sahasra-citra’—splendidly ornamented—suggesting a sanctified, well-appointed hermitage setting; ritually, the key point is the vow-like practice of toyāśana and timing up to Phālguna’s bright-fortnight end.