Matsya Purana — Śiva–Pārvatī Quarrel and Pārvatī’s Resolve for Austerity to Attain Gaurī-hood, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

नैवास्मि कुटिला शर्व विषमा नैव धूर्जटे सविषयस्त्वं गतः ख्यातिं व्यक्तदोषाकराश्रयः //

Transliteration

naivāsmi kuṭilā śarva viṣamā naiva dhūrjaṭe saviṣayastvaṃ gataḥ khyātiṃ vyaktadoṣākarāśrayaḥ //

Translation

“I am not deceitful, O Śarva; nor am I unfair, O Dhūrjaṭi. Yet you have become widely known—together with your attendant ‘domain’—as a manifest refuge of a mine of faults.”

Word by Word

• na eva asmi: I am not at all

• kuṭilā: crooked, deceitful

• śarva: O Śarva (Śiva)

• viṣamā: uneven, unfair, partial

• na eva: not indeed

• dhūrjaṭe: O Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva, ‘matted-haired’)

• sa-viṣayaḥ: along with (your) sphere/retinue/domain (viṣaya)

• tvam: you

• gataḥ: have gone/come to be

• khyātim: fame, reputation, notoriety

• vyakta: evident, manifest

• doṣa: fault, blemish

• ākara: mine, source, heap

• āśrayaḥ: refuge, resort, dwelling-place

Speaker

• Uncertain (verse is a direct address to Śiva: ‘Śarva/Dhūrjaṭe’; likely a female/Devi-voice given kuṭilā/viṣamā in feminine form, within a narrative dialogue in Adhyaya 155)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva
• Śarva
• Dhūrjaṭi

Tags

• Shiva
• Dialogue
• Ethics
• Reputation
• Doṣa (fault)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it focuses on moral characterization and reputation, using Śiva’s epithets to frame a personal accusation about ‘manifest faults’ (doṣa) and public notoriety (khyāti).

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

Indirectly, it warns that public reputation (khyāti) can attach to perceived faults; for kings and householders, the Matsya Purana’s ethical thrust is to guard conduct and associations so that one is not seen as an ‘āśraya’ (resort) of doṣas—since social trust and dharma depend on character as much as power.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-rule or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its technical vocabulary is ethical-psychological (doṣa, khyāti, āśraya) rather than architectural.