Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

उत्पतन्त्यास् तदाकारा आलोकनकुतूहलात् सृष्ट्यर्थं यत् कृतं तेन तपः परमदारुणम् //

Transliteration

utpatantyās tadākārā ālokanakutūhalāt sṛṣṭyarthaṃ yat kṛtaṃ tena tapaḥ paramadāruṇam //

Translation

അവൾ ഉദ്ഭവിച്ച് അതേ രൂപം ധരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, സ്വന്തം പ്രത്യക്ഷത കാണാനുള്ള കൗതുകത്താൽ സൃഷ്ടിയുടെ ലക്ഷ്യത്തിനായി അവൻ അത്യന്തം കഠിനമായ തപസ് ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• utpatantyāḥ: of her who was rising/emerging

• tad-ākārā: having that form/that very shape

• ālokana-kutūhalāt: from curiosity to look upon/observe

• sṛṣṭi-artham: for the sake/purpose of creation

• yat: which/that

• kṛtam: was done/performed

• tena: by him/therefore

• tapaḥ: austerity, ascetic heat

• parama-dāruṇam: extremely harsh, most formidable

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating cosmological origins to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Creation (Sृष्टि)
• Tapas

Tags

• Creation
• Tapas
• Cosmology
• Sarga
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It highlights creation (sṛṣṭi) as being propelled by intense tapas—ascetic potency—suggesting that manifesting forms arise through a deliberate, severe spiritual exertion rather than by chance.

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

It frames disciplined effort (tapas) as the engine of constructive outcomes; by analogy, a king or householder sustains order and prosperity through self-restraint, purposeful action, and commitment to dharmic goals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or iconographic rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of tapas (austerity/observance) as a prerequisite power for initiating sacred acts and generative undertakings.