Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — The Birth of Tāraka: Varāṅgī’s Lament

Devanagari script

चचाल सकला पृथ्वी समुद्राश्च चकम्पिरे चेलुर्महीधराः सर्वे ववुर्वाताश्च भीषणाः //

Transliteration

cacāla sakalā pṛthvī samudrāśca cakampire celurmahīdharāḥ sarve vavurvātāśca bhīṣaṇāḥ //

Translation

The entire earth shook; the oceans trembled; all the mountains swayed, and dreadful winds began to blow.

Word by Word

• चचाल (cacāla): shook/moved

• सकला (sakalā): entire/whole

• पृथ्वी (pṛthvī): earth

• समुद्राः (samudrāḥ): oceans/seas

• च (ca): and

• चकम्पिरे (cakampire): trembled/quaked

• चेलुः (celuḥ): swayed/reeled

• महीधराः (mahīdharāḥ): mountains (‘earth-bearers’)

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• ववुः (vavuḥ): blew

• वाताः (vātāḥ): winds

• भीषणाः (bhīṣaṇāḥ): terrible/dreadful

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting the Pralaya-like omens within the Matsya Purana’s flood-cycle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Prithvi (Earth)
• Samudra (Oceans)
• Mahidhara (Mountains)
• Vayu (Winds)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Omens
• Cosmic upheaval
• Flood narrative
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It depicts classic Pralaya-style portents—earthquakes, agitated oceans, swaying mountains, and fierce winds—signaling a breakdown of ordinary cosmic stability.

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

As an omen-verse, it implies preparedness and dharmic steadiness in times of crisis—leaders should protect people and resources, while householders maintain discipline, charity, and ritual order when the world becomes unstable.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Though not giving Vastu rules directly, the imagery underscores why Vastu and ritual texts stress stable foundations, correct site assessment, and protective rites—because nature’s upheavals are treated as spiritually and materially consequential.