Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

न चान्यत्कारणं किंचिद् धास्यहेतौ शुचिस्मिते न सामन्यत् तदा देवी प्राहालीकमिदं वचः //

Transliteration

na cānyatkāraṇaṃ kiṃcid dhāsyahetau śucismite na sāmanyat tadā devī prāhālīkamidaṃ vacaḥ //

Translation

«Ô toi au sourire pur, il n’existe aucune autre cause à ce rire ; ce n’est pas une chose banale.» Alors la Déesse prononça ces paroles, bien qu’elles fussent trompeuses.

Word by Word

• na: not

• ca: and

• anyat: other

• kāraṇam: cause

• kiṃcit: anything at all

• dhāsya-hetau: in/for the cause of laughter (reason for smiling/laughing)

• śuci-smite: O one of pure smile

• na: not

• sāmanyat: from/ as something ordinary (a commonplace matter)

• tadā: then

• devī: the Goddess

• prāha: said/spoke

• ālīkam: false, deceptive

• idaṃ: this

• vacaḥ: speech/words

Speaker

• Devi (Goddess) speaking (narrative indicates her reply; verse also notes the speech as ālīka—deceptive).

Entities Mentioned

• Devi

Tags

• Pralaya
• Dialogue
• Devi
• Emotion
• Narrative

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it frames a serious, non-trivial exchange within the Pralaya-era narrative: the laughter/smile has a significant cause, suggesting a consequential turning point in the unfolding account rather than casual speech.

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

It cautions against treating important signs and statements as “ordinary” and highlights discernment (viveka): in governance and household ethics, one must evaluate motives and truthfulness, since even authoritative speech can be ālīka (deceptive).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated in this verse; its takeaway is interpretive—serious speech-acts and intentions matter, a principle that later supports careful adherence to ritual and architectural prescriptions rather than casual improvisation.