Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वायो भवान् विचेतस्कस् त्वं स्निग्धैरिव निर्जितः किं त्वं बिभेषि धनद संन्यस्यैव कुबेरताम् //

Transliteration

vāyo bhavān vicetaskas tvaṃ snigdhairiva nirjitaḥ kiṃ tvaṃ bibheṣi dhanada saṃnyasyaiva kuberatām //

Translation

O Vāyu, you seem bewildered—as though overcome by those who are dear to you. Why do you, O Dhanada (Kubera), feel fear, even after having renounced your very status as Kubera?

Word by Word

• वायो (vāyo): O Vāyu

• भवान् (bhavān): you

• विचेतस्कः (vicetaskaḥ): bewildered, lacking clear awareness

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• स्निग्धैः (snigdhaiḥ): by the affectionate/attached ones, by loved ones

• इव (iva): as if

• निर्जितः (nirjitaḥ): conquered, overcome

• किम् (kim): why?

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• बिभेषि (bibheṣi): fear, are afraid

• धनद (dhanada): O giver of wealth (Kubera)

• संन्यस्य (saṃnyasya): having renounced, having laid aside

• एव (eva): indeed

• कुबेरताम् (kuberatām): the state/office of being Kubera

Speaker

• Narrator within the episode (a questioning interlocutor addressing Vāyu and Dhanada/Kubera)

Entities Mentioned

• Vāyu
• Dhanada (Kubera)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Detachment
• Fear
• Kubera
• Divine Offices

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it focuses on fear and renunciation in a divine-ethical narrative involving Vāyu and Kubera (Dhanada).

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

It underscores a Rajadharma-style principle: fear and inner turmoil persist when one is still psychologically bound by attachment, even if one has outwardly relinquished power or status—an admonition for rulers and householders to practice genuine detachment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, iconographic, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; the emphasis is on mental state (bewilderment, fear) and the renunciation of office.