Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

कस्माद्विभूतिर् अमलामरमर्त्यपूज्या जाता च सर्वविजितामरसुन्दरीणाम् भार्या ममाल्पतपसा परितोषितेन दत्तं ममाम्बुजगृहं च मुनीन्द्र धात्रा //

Transliteration

kasmādvibhūtir amalāmaramartyapūjyā jātā ca sarvavijitāmarasundarīṇām bhāryā mamālpatapasā paritoṣitena dattaṃ mamāmbujagṛhaṃ ca munīndra dhātrā //

Translation

Why has Vibhūti—pure and worthy of worship by gods and mortals—become my wife, surpassing all the celestial maidens? And why, O best of sages, has the Creator Dhātṛ (Brahmā), pleased with my slight austerity, granted me also a lotus-like dwelling?

Word by Word

• kasmāt: why/for what reason

• vibhūtiḥ: Vibhūti (a personified name, ‘splendour/prosperity’)

• amalā: stainless, pure

• amara: of the gods, immortal

• martya: of mortals

• pūjyā: worthy of worship

• jātā: has become/has been born (as)

• ca: and

• sarva-vijitā: having surpassed/conquered all

• amara-sundarīṇām: of the heavenly maidens (apsarases)

• bhāryā: wife

• mama: my

• alpa-tapasā: by little austerity

• paritoṣitena: (by him) being fully pleased/satisfied

• dattam: granted/given

• mama: to me/my

• ambuja-gṛham: lotus(-like) house/dwelling

• ca: and

• munīndra: O chief of sages

• dhātrā: by Dhātṛ, the Creator (Brahmā).

Speaker

• A blessed recipient (likely a human/royal devotee) addressing a sage (munīndra) within the Matsya Purana’s narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Vibhūti
• Dhātṛ (Brahmā)
• Amaras (Devas)
• Celestial maidens (Apsarases)

Tags

• Tapas
• Boons
• Brahma
• Divine favor
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on how the Creator (Dhātṛ/Brahmā) grants extraordinary rewards—status, a celestial spouse, and a divine dwelling—when pleased by austerity.

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

It highlights a key Purāṇic ethic: disciplined conduct and tapas (self-restraint, vows, spiritual effort) can yield legitimate prosperity and honor; for a householder or king, merit is portrayed as the proper foundation for fortune rather than mere power.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The phrase ambuja-gṛha (‘lotus-like dwelling’) signals a symbolic, auspicious residence associated with purity and divine favor—useful for interpreting later Matsya Purana vastu and temple-architecture ideals where lotus imagery denotes sanctity and prosperity.