Matsya Purana — Śiva–Pārvatī Quarrel and Pārvatī’s Resolve for Austerity to Attain Gaurī-hood, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

एष स्त्रीलम्पटो देवो यातायां मय्यनन्तरम् द्वाररक्षा त्वया कार्या नित्यं रन्ध्रान्ववेक्षिणा //

Transliteration

eṣa strīlampaṭo devo yātāyāṃ mayyanantaram dvārarakṣā tvayā kāryā nityaṃ randhrānvavekṣiṇā //

Translation

«Ce dieu est porté au désir des femmes. Après mon départ en voyage, tu devras garder la porte sans cesse, toujours vigilant, scrutant chaque ouverture et la moindre faille.»

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this

• strī-lampaṭaḥ: woman-crazed, lustful for women

• devaḥ: god, divine being (here used for a powerful being)

• yātāyām: when (I) have gone / on departure

• mayi: after me / when I (am gone)

• anantaram: immediately thereafter

• dvāra-rakṣā: guarding of the door/entrance

• tvayā: by you

• kāryā: must be done, should be performed

• nityam: always, constantly

• randhrān: openings, holes, weak points

• ava-vekṣiṇā: by one who watches closely, a vigilant observer.

Speaker

• A female speaker (likely a queen/household lady in the Yayati narrative context) instructing a gate-guard/attendant

Entities Mentioned

• Deva (unnamed)

Tags

• Yayati episode
• Household vigilance
• Protection
• Ethics
• Conduct

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a narrative instruction about vigilance and guarding an entrance, not cosmology or pralaya.

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

It emphasizes constant vigilance and safeguarding the household—an applied dharma theme: preventing misconduct by controlling access and watching for “randhra” (weak points/loopholes).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights practical security: guarding the dvāra (main entrance) and monitoring all randhras (openings/weak spots), a principle that aligns with protective management of thresholds in domestic/estate spaces.