Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 143

Devanagari script

शरीरलक्षणानां तु विज्ञानाय तु कौतुकात् स्त्रीस्वभावाद्यद्दुहितुश् चिन्तां हृदि समुद्वहन् //

Transliteration

śarīralakṣaṇānāṃ tu vijñānāya tu kautukāt strīsvabhāvādyadduhituś cintāṃ hṛdi samudvahan //

Translation

ശരീരലക്ഷണങ്ങളുടെ വിജ്ഞാനം കൗതുകത്താൽ അറിയുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, സ്ത്രീസ്വഭാവാദികളെ ചിന്തിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, അവൻ മകളെക്കുറിച്ച് ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ആശങ്ക വഹിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• śarīra-lakṣaṇānām: of bodily characteristics/marks

• tu: indeed/and

• vijñānāya: for knowing/for understanding

• tu: and

• kautukāt: out of curiosity/interest

• strī-svabhāva-ādi: a woman’s nature and related matters

• yat: which/that

• duhituḥ: of (his) daughter

• cintām: worry/concern

• hṛdi: in (his) heart

• samudvahan: bearing/carrying (within himself)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice summarizing the situation)

Entities Mentioned

• Duhitṛ (daughter)
• Strī-svabhāva (womanly nature)
• Śarīra-lakṣaṇa (bodily marks)

Tags

• Stri-dharma
• Grihastha
• Physiognomy
• Ethics
• Family duty

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on personal concern and the intent to understand bodily marks and feminine disposition in a social-ethical context.

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

It reflects the duty of a responsible guardian/householder to thoughtfully consider a daughter’s welfare, using discernment (knowledge of traits and conduct) rather than negligence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; the topic is physiognomic understanding and family concern.