Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Burning of Tripura: Maya’s Triple Fortresses and the Boon that Leads to S...

Devanagari script

वर्षासु च तथाकाशे क्षपयन्तस्तनूः प्रियाः सेवानाः फलमूलानि पुष्पाणि च जलानि च //

Transliteration

varṣāsu ca tathākāśe kṣapayantastanūḥ priyāḥ sevānāḥ phalamūlāni puṣpāṇi ca jalāni ca //

Translation

In the rainy season—and likewise beneath the open sky—those devoted to disciplined observance, dear to the virtuous, should mortify the body, subsisting in service on fruits and roots, on flowers, and on water.

Word by Word

वर्षासुin the rains/monsoon season

चand

तथाlikewise

आकाशेin the open sky/under the sky

क्षपयन्तःwearing down, mortifying, reducing (by austerity)

तनूःthe body (lit. the slender frame)

प्रियाःdear/pleasing (to the good), beloved

सेवानाःserving, devotedly attending (engaged in service/observance)

फलमूलानिfruits and roots

पुष्पाणिflowers

चand

जलानिwaters (water only, drinking water).

Speaker

Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s vrata/ācāra discourse)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches seasonal austerity (especially during the rains) as a dharmic discipline—mortifying the body and living simply under the open sky.

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

It frames self-restraint as a legitimate dharmic practice even for those in society: adopting limited diet (fruits, roots, flowers, water) and disciplined living in the rainy season supports purity, self-control, and merit—qualities expected of rulers and householders when undertaking vows.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to vrata-style observance: living “under the open sky” and maintaining a restricted diet as part of austerity. It does not prescribe Vastu or temple-building rules in this specific verse.