Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

तमसा चातिनिबिडं नल्वमात्रं सुसंकटम् नल्वमात्रमतिक्रम्य स्वप्रभाभरणोज्ज्वलम् //

Transliteration

tamasā cātinibiḍaṃ nalvamātraṃ susaṃkaṭam nalvamātramatikramya svaprabhābharaṇojjvalam //

Translation

There was a stretch of exceedingly dense darkness, perilous for the space of a nalva. Having crossed that nalva-long passage, one beheld a radiant expanse—brilliant with its own natural splendor, as though adorned with light itself.

Word by Word

• tamasā: by darkness/with darkness

• ca: and

• atinibiḍam: very dense, tightly compact

• nalva-mātram: for the measure of a nalva (a short unit of distance/extent)

• su-saṃkaṭam: extremely dangerous, hard to traverse

• nalva-mātram: that same measure

• atikramya: having crossed, passed beyond

• sva-prabhā: its own radiance, self-luminosity

• ābharaṇa: ornament/adornment

• ujjvalam: shining brightly, resplendent

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana dialogue; the described scene belongs to Lord Matsya’s Pralaya account to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Tamas (darkness)
• Nalva (measure of extent)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Darkness
• Matsya Narrative
• Divine Radiance
• Purana Cosmology

FAQs

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

It depicts a Pralaya-like threshold: a perilous belt of compact “tamas” (cosmic obscuration) that must be crossed before reaching a self-luminous state, suggesting transition from dissolution-darkness into a higher, radiant order.

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

Indirectly, it frames the ethical ideal of steadfastness: like crossing a dangerous dark stretch, a ruler or householder must endure संकट (crisis) with discipline to arrive at clarity—symbolically, dharma that leads beyond confusion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; however, the imagery of moving from dense darkness into radiance is often echoed in ritual/temple symbolism (progress from outer obscurity to inner illumination), useful for interpretive context rather than technical prescription.