Shloka 42

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

ततःप्रभृति चाश्वानां स्तना दन्ता गवां तथा मूढाः समभवंस्तेन चादृश्यत्वमुपागताः //

Transliteration

tataḥprabhṛti cāśvānāṃ stanā dantā gavāṃ tathā mūḍhāḥ samabhavaṃstena cādṛśyatvamupāgatāḥ //

Translation

From that time onward, mares came to have udders and cows came to have teeth; those beings fell into bewilderment, and therefore passed into invisibility.

Word by Word

• tataḥ-prabhṛti: from that time onward

• ca: and

• aśvānām: of horses/mares

• stanāḥ: udders/breasts

• dantāḥ: teeth

• gavām: of cows

• tathā: likewise

• mūḍhāḥ: deluded/bewildered

• samabhavan: became/arose

• tena: thereby/for that reason

• ca: and

• adṛśyatvam: invisibility/unseen state

• upāgatāḥ: attained/reached

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account in summary form)

Entities Mentioned

• aśva (horse/mares)
• go (cows)

Tags

• Creation
• Etiology
• Cosmic anomaly
• Purāṇic zoology
• Invisibility motif

FAQs

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

It functions as an etiological note within creation-themed narration: certain abnormal or inverted traits are said to arise “from that time onward,” and bewilderment leads some beings to an unseen (adṛśya) state—suggesting instability or distortion in a particular cosmic phase rather than a direct pralaya description.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces a common Purāṇic ethic: confusion (mūḍhatā) results in loss of clarity and ‘visibility’ (social/spiritual standing). For kings and householders, the implied guideline is to avoid delusion through dharma, right counsel, and disciplined conduct so that order (rather than anomaly) prevails.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse. Its takeaway is symbolic: disorder and delusion produce irregular outcomes—an idea later echoed in Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips where correct rules prevent flawed or inauspicious results.