Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

व्यालेभ्यो ऽनेकजिह्वत्वं भस्मना स्नेहबन्धनम् हृत्कालुष्यं शशाङ्कात्तु दुर्बोधित्वं वृषादपि //

Transliteration

vyālebhyo 'nekajihvatvaṃ bhasmanā snehabandhanam hṛtkāluṣyaṃ śaśāṅkāttu durbodhitvaṃ vṛṣādapi //

Translation

From serpents arises the state of having many tongues; from ash comes the binding of affection (attachment). From the Moon comes the defilement of the heart; and from the bull as well comes dullness of understanding.

Word by Word

• vyālebhyaḥ: from serpents/reptiles

• aneka-jihvatvam: many-tonguedness (duplicity, speaking in many ways)

• bhasmanā: from ash

• sneha-bandhanam: bondage through affection/attachment

• hṛt-kāluṣyam: impurity/taint of the heart

• śaśāṅkāt: from the Moon

• tu: indeed/but

• durbodhitvam: difficult-to-awaken understanding, dull comprehension

• vṛṣāt: from the bull

• api: also/even

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vyāla (serpents)
• Bhasma (sacred ash/ash)
• Śaśāṅka (Moon)
• Vṛṣa (bull)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Doṣa
• Character-traits
• Moral psychology

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it functions as an ethical-psychological mapping of negative traits, tracing them symbolically to natural archetypes (serpent, ash, moon, bull).

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

It cautions against duplicity in speech (many-tonguedness), attachment that becomes bondage, inner impurity, and dull judgment—faults that undermine a king’s justice and a householder’s integrity in relationships and decisions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Direct Vāstu/temple rules are not stated here; the only ritual-adjacent term is bhasma (ash), used symbolically to indicate how even ‘sacred’ or neutral elements can become causes of attachment if misrelated to.