Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 124

Devanagari script

कुशलं तपसः शैलः शनैः फुल्लाननाम्बुजः मुनिरप्यद्रिराजानम् अपृच्छत्कुशलं तदा //

Transliteration

kuśalaṃ tapasaḥ śailaḥ śanaiḥ phullānanāmbujaḥ munirapyadrirājānam apṛcchatkuśalaṃ tadā //

Translation

Alors Śaila, le visage tel un lotus s’épanouissant peu à peu dans la quiétude, s’enquit du bien-être et de la prospérité des austérités (tapas) ; et le sage, à son tour, demanda au roi des montagnes s’il se portait bien.

Word by Word

• kuśalam: well-being, welfare

• tapasaḥ: of austerity, of ascetic practice

• śailaḥ: the mountain

• śanaiḥ: gradually, gently

• phulla: blossomed

• ānana: face

• ambujaḥ: lotus-like

• muniḥ api: the sage also

• adrirājānam: the king of mountains (mountain-sovereign)

• apṛcchat: asked, inquired

• kuśalam: welfare

• tadā: then, at that time

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic voice) describing the sage’s courteous inquiry

Entities Mentioned

• Muni (sage)
• Adrirāja (king of mountains)

Tags

• Tapas
• Sacred Geography
• Rishi Dialogue
• Kushala-Prashna
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it portrays a dharmic narrative moment where a sage respectfully inquires about welfare and the success of austerities.

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

It models dharmic civility: asking after another’s welfare (kuśala-praśna) is a valued social duty, reflecting courteous speech and concern—virtues expected of householders and rulers alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the ritual subtext is the primacy of tapas and auspicious well-being in sacred-place narratives that often frame later tīrtha/temple contexts.