Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Tripura’s Prosperity

Devanagari script

उलूकं रुचिरा नारी नग्नारूढा खरं तथा सह स्त्रीभिर्हसन्ती च चुम्बने प्रमदा यथा पुरुषः सिन्दुतिलकश् चतुरङ्घ्रिस् त्रिलोचनः //

Transliteration

ulūkaṃ rucirā nārī nagnārūḍhā kharaṃ tathā saha strībhirhasantī ca cumbane pramadā yathā puruṣaḥ sindutilakaś caturaṅghris trilocanaḥ //

Translation

A beautiful woman, naked, mounted upon a donkey—laughing together with other women, as if eager to kiss; and a man marked with a tilaka of sindūra, four-footed and three-eyed—such sights (especially as dream-omens) are to be understood as extraordinary and inauspicious portents.

Word by Word

• ulūkam: an owl

• rucirā: beautiful, charming

• nārī: woman

• nagnā: naked

• ārūḍhā: mounted, seated upon

• kharam: a donkey

• tathā: likewise

• saha: together with

• strībhiḥ: with women

• hasantī: laughing

• ca: and

• cumbane: in kissing / toward a kiss

• pramadā: young woman, amorous woman

• yathā: as if, like

• puruṣaḥ: a man

• sindu-tilakaḥ: one whose forehead-mark (tilaka) is of sindūra (vermilion)

• caturaṅghriḥ: four-footed

• trilocanaḥ: three-eyed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu on signs and omens)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• owl (ulūka)
• donkey (khara)
• sindūra-tilaka
• trilocana (three-eyed figure)

Tags

• Omens
• Dreams
• Nimitta
• Iconography
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya directly; it belongs to an omens/dream-signs context, listing uncanny, inverted forms as indicators of impending disturbance or misfortune rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

For a king or householder, such dream-omens function as cautionary signals—prompting vigilance, restraint, and remedial rites (śānti/propitiation) before undertaking decisions, travel, warfare, or major domestic ceremonies.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is primarily ritual: abnormal or impure dream-visions are treated as nimittas that may require śānti rites before temple worship, consecrations, or Vastu-related undertakings, to neutralize perceived inauspiciousness.