Matsya Purana — Śiva–Pārvatī Quarrel and Pārvatī’s Resolve for Austerity to Attain Gaurī-hood, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

काठिन्याङ्कस्त्वमस्मभ्यं वनेभ्यो बहुधा गता कुटिलत्वं च वर्त्मभ्यो दुःसेव्यत्वं हिमादपि संक्रान्तिं सर्वदैवेति तन्वङ्गि हिमशैलराट् //

Transliteration

kāṭhinyāṅkastvamasmabhyaṃ vanebhyo bahudhā gatā kuṭilatvaṃ ca vartmabhyo duḥsevyatvaṃ himādapi saṃkrāntiṃ sarvadaiveti tanvaṅgi himaśailarāṭ //

Translation

ഓ തന്വംഗി! വനങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നു നീ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് പലവട്ടം കാഠിന്യത്തിന്റെ മുദ്ര കൊണ്ടുവന്നു; പാതകളിൽ നിന്നു അവയുടെ വളവുതനം; ഹിമത്തിൽ നിന്നു പോലും സമീപിക്കാനും സഹിക്കാനും ദുഷ്കരമായ ദുഃസേവ്യത. അതിനാൽ ദേവന്മാരുടെ ഓരോ സംക്രാന്തികാലത്തും ഹിമശൈലരാജനായ ഹിമവാൻ ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള പരീക്ഷകളുടെ കാരണമെന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• काठिन्य-अङ्कः: a mark/sign of hardship

• त्वम्: you

• अस्मभ्यम्: for us/to us

• वनेभ्यः: from the forests

• बहुधा: many times

• गताः: brought/come (as experiences)

• कुटिलत्वम्: crookedness/difficulty

• च: and

• वर्त्मभ्यः: from the paths/roads

• दुःसेव्यत्वम्: being hard to resort to/difficult to endure

• हिमात्: from cold/snow

• अपि: even/also

• संक्रान्तिम्: saṅkrānti (solar transition)

• सर्वदा: always/at all times

• इति: thus

• तन्वङ्गि: O slender-limbed woman

• हिमशैलराट्: king of the हिम (snowy) mountains, Himavat

Speaker

• Narratorial voice within the sacred-geography passage (Matsya Purana discourse tradition, likely Sūta relaying the account)

Entities Mentioned

• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Saṅkrānti (solar transition)

Tags

• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Himalaya
• Sacred Geography
• Seasonal Rites
• Pilgrimage Hardships

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on sacred geography and the lived austerity of Himalayan regions—hard forests, difficult paths, and severe cold—especially notable around calendrical transitions (saṅkrānti).

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

It implicitly frames pilgrimage and observance of sacred times (like saṅkrānti) as demanding disciplines; for householders, it underscores endurance and proper timing of rites, and for rulers it reflects the ideal of supporting safe routes and religious observances tied to seasonal/solar transitions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual cue is saṅkrānti—an auspicious solar transition often used to time vows, baths, gifts, and pilgrimages; architecturally, the verse is not about Vāstu, but it contextualizes why Himalayan shrines and routes are treated as rigorous, merit-bearing sacred spaces.