Matsya Purana — The Tale of Brahmadatta: Past-life Memory, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

हा वयं योगविभ्रष्टाः कामतः कर्मबन्धनाः एवं विलप्य बहुशस् त्रयस्ते योगपारगाः //

Transliteration

hā vayaṃ yogavibhraṣṭāḥ kāmataḥ karmabandhanāḥ evaṃ vilapya bahuśas trayaste yogapāragāḥ //

Translation

“അയ്യോ! ഞങ്ങൾ യോഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വഴുതിപ്പോയി; കാമന മൂലം കർമ്മബന്ധനത്തിൽ കുടുങ്ങി.” ഇങ്ങനെ പലവട്ടം വിലപിച്ച്, യോഗപാരഗന്മാരായ ആ മൂവരും പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• हा (hā): alas

• वयम् (vayam): we

• योग-विभ्रष्टाः (yoga-vibhraṣṭāḥ): fallen from yoga, deviated from yogic discipline

• कामतः (kāmataḥ): due to desire, from lust/longing

• कर्म-बन्धनाः (karma-bandhanāḥ): bound by karma, tied by the fetters of action and its results

• एवम् (evam): thus

• विलप्य (vilapya): lamenting, wailing

• बहुशः (bahuśaḥ): repeatedly, many times

• त्रयः (trayaḥ): three

• ते (te): those

• योग-पारगाः (yoga-pāragāḥ): those who have gone beyond yoga, masters who reached yoga’s far shore

Speaker

• Narrator describing the speech of three yogins/sages (within the Matsya–Manu dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• three yogins (trayaḥ yogapāragāḥ)
• karma (karman)
• kāma (desire)
• yoga

Tags

• Yoga
• Karma
• Kama
• Detachment
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic pralaya; it teaches an inner, ethical causality: desire (kāma) pulls one from yoga and creates karmic bondage, a “personal dissolution” of spiritual steadiness.

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

It warns that indulgence in desire produces binding consequences; for a king or householder, the implied duty is disciplined restraint, right intention, and action aligned with dharma so that karma does not become a fetter.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; the takeaway is preparatory—purity of mind and control of desire are foundational for any effective rite, vrata, or temple-related observance taught elsewhere in the Matsya Purana.