Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

*संनतिरुवाच अकस्मादतिहासस्ते किमर्थमभवन्नृप हास्यहेतुं न जानामि यदकाले कृतं त्वया //

Transliteration

*saṃnatiruvāca akasmādatihāsaste kimarthamabhavannṛpa hāsyahetuṃ na jānāmi yadakāle kṛtaṃ tvayā //

Translation

Samnati berkata: Wahai Raja, mengapa tawa tiba-tiba ini muncul padamu? Aku tidak tahu penyebab kegembiraanmu, terutama karena engkau melakukannya pada waktu yang tidak tepat.

Word by Word

• संनतिः उवाच: Saṃnati said

• interf. अकस्मात्: suddenly, unexpectedly

• इह: here/just now

• हासः: laughter

• ते: of you/in you

• किमर्थम्: for what reason, why

• अभवत्: arose, happened

• नृप: O king

• हास्य-हेतुम्: the cause of laughter

• न: not

• जानामि: I know

• यत्: which/that

• अकाले: at the wrong time, untimely

• कृतम्: done

• त्वया: by you.

Speaker

• Saṃnati

Entities Mentioned

• Saṃnati
• Nṛpa (the King)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Nīti
• Courtly decorum
• Ethics
• Dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on human conduct—questioning sudden laughter and an action performed at an improper time.

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

It highlights the dharmic expectation of self-restraint and propriety: a king’s reactions (like laughter) and actions should be timely and appropriate, since public behavior sets the moral tone of the court and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the key takeaway is the principle of kāla (proper timing), which is also foundational in ritual performance even though architecture is not addressed here.