Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

न तु वेत्सि चराचरभूतगतं भवभावमतीव महानुच्छ्रितः प्रभवः / पुनरर्थिवचो ऽभिविस्तृतश्रवणोपमकौतुकभावकृतः //

Transliteration

na tu vetsi carācarabhūtagataṃ bhavabhāvamatīva mahānucchritaḥ prabhavaḥ / punararthivaco 'bhivistṛtaśravaṇopamakautukabhāvakṛtaḥ //

Translation

Yet you do not truly know the profound nature of becoming that pervades all moving and unmoving beings, nor the exceedingly great and exalted Source (Prabhava). Therefore, urged again by the seeker’s words, he replied with an expansive discourse, stirred by wonder, as though widening the listener’s ears to hear more.

Word by Word

• na: not

• tu: however/yet

• vetsi: you know/you understand

• cara-acara: moving and unmoving

• bhūta-gatam: present in/entered into beings

• bhava-bhāvam: the state/nature of becoming (worldly existence)

• atīva: exceedingly

• mahān: great

• ucchritaḥ: exalted/lofty

• prabhavaḥ: the Origin/Source (Supreme cause)

• punaḥ: again

• arthin-vacaḥ: the words of the petitioner/seeker

• abhivistṛta: greatly expanded

• śravaṇa-upama: comparable to (widened) hearing/ears, i.e., to make one hear fully

• kautuka-bhāva: a mood of wonder/curiosity

• kṛtaḥ: made/caused (i.e., he proceeded/was moved to speak).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in dialogue responding to the seeker, traditionally Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Prabhava (Supreme Source)
• Cara-Acara Bhuta (moving and unmoving beings)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Metaphysics
• Creation
• Inquiry
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It frames pralaya/creation knowledge as rooted in understanding the Prabhava (supreme source) that pervades all beings (moving and unmoving); without knowing that underlying cause, one cannot grasp the deeper truth of cosmic cycles.

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

It emphasizes humility and disciplined inquiry: a ruler or householder should seek right knowledge of the world’s nature and its source, because governance and dharma become steady only when grounded in a clear understanding beyond mere appearances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse functions as a preface to an expanded teaching—useful as a doctrinal lead-in for later Matsya Purana instructions (including ritual or Vastu sections) by stressing proper questioning and attentive listening.