Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

दूतेन मारुतेनाशुगामिना नगदेवता श्रुत्वा वायुमुखाद्देवी क्रोधरक्तविलोचना अशपद्वीरकं पुत्रं हृदयेन विदूयता //

Transliteration

dūtena mārutenāśugāminā nagadevatā śrutvā vāyumukhāddevī krodharaktavilocanā aśapadvīrakaṃ putraṃ hṛdayena vidūyatā //

Translation

Hearing from the mouth of the Wind—who had come swiftly as a messenger—the mountain goddess, her eyes reddened with anger, cursed her son Vīraka, her heart burning with grief.

Word by Word

• dūtena: by a messenger

• mārutena: by the Wind (Vāyu)

• āśu-gāminā: swift-moving

• naga-devatā: the mountain-goddess (deity presiding over the mountain)

• śrutvā: having heard

• vāyu-mukhāt: from the mouth of Vāyu / from Vāyu’s report

• devī: the goddess

• krodha-rakta-vilocanā: whose eyes were red with anger

• aśapat: cursed

• vīrakam: Vīraka (proper name)

• putram: (her) son

• hṛdayena: in/with her heart

• vidūyatā: burning, being tormented, consumed (with sorrow/anguish).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) or the Purāṇic narrator continuing the episode (contextual narration, not direct speech by Matsya).

Entities Mentioned

• Vāyu (Marut)
• Naga-devatā (Mountain-goddess)
• Vīraka

Tags

• Puranic narrative
• Curse (Śāpa)
• Deities
• Emotion and consequence
• Messenger motif

FAQs

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

This verse does not speak about Pralaya; it presents a narrative moment where a goddess, provoked by news delivered by Vāyu, issues a curse—showing karmic consequence rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it illustrates how uncontrolled anger and grief can lead to irreversible actions (like a śāpa). In the Matsya Purana’s ethical frame, rulers and householders are urged to practice restraint (dama) and discernment before acting on intense emotion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its focus is the narrative mechanics of a divine message and the resulting curse.