Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ततः सा संनतिर्दृष्ट्वा तं हसन्तं सुविस्मिता किमप्याशङ्क्य मनसा तमपृच्छन्नरेश्वरम् //

Transliteration

tataḥ sā saṃnatirdṛṣṭvā taṃ hasantaṃ suvismitā kimapyāśaṅkya manasā tamapṛcchannareśvaram //

Translation

അപ്പോൾ സന്നതി അവനെ പുഞ്ചിരിയോടെ കാണുമ്പോൾ അത്യന്തം വിസ്മയിച്ചു; മനസ്സിൽ എന്തോ സംശയം തോന്നി ആ നരേശ്വരനോട് (രാജാവിനോട്) ചോദിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then

• सा: she

• संनतिः: Saṃnati (proper name)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• तम्: him

• हसन्तम्: smiling/laughing

• सुविस्मिता: greatly astonished

• किम् अपि: something/anything (indefinite)

• आशङ्क्य: suspecting, apprehending

• मनसा: in the mind

• तम्: him

• अपृच्छत्: asked, questioned

• नर-ईश्वरम्: the lord of men, king

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Matsya Purana’s story flow)

Entities Mentioned

• Saṃnati
• King (Nareśvara)

Tags

• Dialogue
• Royal Ethics
• Narrative
• Suspicion
• Inquiry

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly describe pralaya; it sets a narrative moment of astonishment and questioning that typically precedes an explanation or teaching in the Purana.

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

By calling the man a nareśvara (“lord of men”), the verse foregrounds royal responsibility: a king’s conduct is observed and questioned, implying accountability and the expectation of clear, dharmic intentions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it functions as a transition into inquiry, a common Purāṇic device before technical instruction (including dharma, vrata, or Vāstu topics) is delivered elsewhere.