Shloka 101

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

तेन चोद्भूतफलितपरिपाकगुणोज्ज्वलाः अभवत्पृथिवी देवी शालिमालाकुलापि च //

Transliteration

tena codbhūtaphalitaparipākaguṇojjvalāḥ abhavatpṛthivī devī śālimālākulāpi ca //

Translation

Through that divine influence, the goddess Earth became radiant with the qualities of sprouting, fruiting, and full ripening—and she was also filled with clusters of śāli rice.

Word by Word

• tena: by that, through that cause

• ca: and

• udbhūta: arisen, sprouted

• phalita: bearing fruit

• paripāka: complete ripening, maturation

• guṇa: qualities, attributes

• ujjvalāḥ: shining, resplendent

• abhavat: became

• pṛthivī: the Earth

• devī: goddess

• śāli: rice (a fine paddy variety)

• mālā: garland, cluster, abundance in bunches

• ākulā: crowded, filled, thronged

• api: also

• ca: and

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice recounting the Purāṇic account; within the broader Matsya–Manu dialogue context)

Entities Mentioned

• Pṛthivī (Earth Goddess)
• Śāli (rice)

Tags

• Creation
• Fertility
• Agriculture
• Prosperity
• Pṛthivī

FAQs

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

Rather than Pralaya, this verse highlights restoration and prosperity: Earth becomes fertile, with crops sprouting, fruiting, and fully ripening—signs of renewed cosmic order and nourishment.

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

It implies that when divine order (and by extension righteous governance and dharma) prevails, the earth yields abundance; a king’s duty is to protect dharma and ensure conditions where agriculture and sustenance flourish.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the Purāṇic emphasis on prosperity signs—fertile earth and ripened grain—often invoked in agrarian rites and offerings (anna/śāli) in worship.