Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Śiva–Pārvatī Quarrel and Pārvatī’s Resolve for Austerity to Attain Gaurī-hood

Devanagari script

हिमाचलस्य शृङ्गैस्तैर् मेघजालाकुलैर्नभः तथा दुरवगाह्येभ्यो हृदयेभ्यस्तवाशयः //

Transliteration

himācalasya śṛṅgaistair meghajālākulairnabhaḥ tathā duravagāhyebhyo hṛdayebhyastavāśayaḥ //

Translation

As the sky is thickly veiled by those cloud-masses around the peaks of the Himālaya, so too your inner intention remains hard to fathom for minds of difficult access.

Word by Word

• himācalasya: of the Himālaya mountain

• śṛṅgaiḥ: with peaks/summits

• taiḥ: by those

• meghajāla-ākulaiḥ: crowded/filled with a net (mass) of clouds

• nabhaḥ: the sky

• tathā: likewise/so

• duravagāhyebhyaḥ: from/for those that are difficult to enter or comprehend

• hṛdayebhyaḥ: from/for hearts (minds)

• tava: your

• āśayaḥ: intention, inner thought, disposition

Speaker

• Likely the interlocutor addressing Lord Matsya (praise/observation within the Matsya–Manu dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Himālaya

Tags

• Stuti
• Upama
• Bhakti
• Philosophy
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not describe Pralaya; it uses a natural simile (clouded Himalayan sky) to convey that higher intention—often understood as divine will guiding cosmic events—can be difficult for ordinary minds to comprehend.

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

It encourages humility and discernment: a king or householder should not act from impulsive certainty about hidden motives, but govern and live by dharma, recognizing that deeper intentions (one’s own or another’s) may be obscure and require careful reflection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is primarily metaphorical, using landscape imagery as a teaching device rather than prescribing temple-building or rites.