Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

ततो गतेषु देवेषु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः निशां सस्मार भगवान् स्वतनोः पूर्वसंभवाम् //

Transliteration

tato gateṣu deveṣu brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ niśāṃ sasmāra bhagavān svatanoḥ pūrvasaṃbhavām //

Translation

ദേവന്മാർ പോയശേഷം ലോകപിതാമഹനായ ഭഗവാൻ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് ആ മഹാനിശയെ സ്മരിച്ചു; തന്റെ ദേഹത്തിൽ നിന്നു മുൻപ് ഉദ്ഭവിച്ച പഴയ അവതാരപ്രകടനത്തെയും ഓർത്തു।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• gateṣu: having gone/departed

• deveṣu: when the gods

• brahmā: Brahmā

• loka-pitāmahaḥ: grandsire (pitāmaha) of the worlds

• niśām: the Night (cosmic night)

• sasmāra: remembered/recollected

• bhagavān: the revered lord

• sva-tanoḥ: from his own body

• pūrva-saṃbhavām: the earlier arising/origin/manifestation

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) / narrative voice describing Brahmā

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Devas

Tags

• Sarga
• Pratisarga
• CosmicNight
• Brahma
• CreationCycle

FAQs

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

It points to cyclical cosmology: after divine activity subsides, Brahmā recalls the ‘cosmic night’ and prior emanations, implying recurring phases of manifestation and withdrawal (pratisarga/pralaya-like rhythm).

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic of periodic reflection and restraint: just as cosmic activity has its ‘night,’ rulers and householders are urged to observe disciplined pauses (self-review, austerity, ritual regularity) within worldly action.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on cosmic time (night/day cycles) that underlies calendrical planning for rites—an idea often used when aligning sacrifices, vows, and consecrations with auspicious temporal divisions.