Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — Uma’s Austerities and the Slaying of the Deceiver Asura ĀḌi

Devanagari script

लोमावर्तं तु रचितं ततो देवः पिनाकधृक् अबुध्यद्दानवीं मायाम् आकारं गूहयंस्ततः //

Transliteration

lomāvartaṃ tu racitaṃ tato devaḥ pinākadhṛk abudhyaddānavīṃ māyām ākāraṃ gūhayaṃstataḥ //

Translation

When the “Lomāvarta” was fashioned, the divine bearer of Pināka (Śiva) understood it to be a Dānava’s illusion; and then, concealing his own form, he proceeded with deliberate strategy.

Word by Word

• लोमावर्तम् (lomāvartam): Lomāvarta (a name/designation of a created form/contrivance)

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• रचितम् (racitam): fashioned/constructed

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter/then

• देवः (devaḥ): the god, the divine one

• पिनाकधृक् (pinākadhṛk): the bearer of the Pināka bow (Śiva)

• अबुध्यत् (abudhyat): perceived/realized/understood

• दानवीं (dānavīm): belonging to a Dānava (demonic/asuric)

• मायाम् (māyām): illusion, magical artifice

• आकारम् (ākāram): form/manifest appearance

• गूहयन् (gūhayan): concealing/veiling

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) in Purāṇic narration (likely reporting the episode to Śaunaka and the sages)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva (Pinākadhṛk)
• Dānava
• Māyā
• Lomāvarta

Tags

• Devasura
• Māyā
• Śiva
• Divine Strategy
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it highlights māyā (illusion) as a tactical force in divine–demonic conflict, and Śiva’s discernment in recognizing and countering it.

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

Indirectly, it models discernment (viveka) and strategic restraint: like Śiva recognizing deception, a king or householder should detect misleading appearances and act prudently rather than impulsively.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the key technical idea is “māyā” as an engineered appearance—useful for interpreting later iconographic or ritual discussions where form and concealment are symbolically important.