Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

तत्रासीनां महाहर्म्ये रत्नभित्तिसमाश्रयाम् ददर्श मेनामापाण्डुच्छविवक्त्रसरोरुहाम् //

Transliteration

tatrāsīnāṃ mahāharmye ratnabhittisamāśrayām dadarśa menāmāpāṇḍucchavivaktrasaroruhām //

Translation

Di sana, duduk di balairung istana yang agung dan bersandar pada dinding bertatah permata, dia melihat Menā—wajahnya laksana teratai, berseri dengan rona yang cerah, putih dan tanpa cela.

Word by Word

• tatra: there

• āsīnām: seated (feminine accusative)

• mahā-harmye: in the great mansion/palace

• ratna-bhitti-samāśrayām: resting against (samāśrayām) a jewel(-set) wall (ratna-bhitti)

• dadarśa: (he) saw/beheld

• menām: Menā (name)

• apāṇḍu-cchavi: of fair, not-sallow radiance/complexion

• vaktra: face

• saroruhām: lotus-like (literally ‘lotus-born/lotus’), i.e., lotus-faced

Speaker

• Sūta (Paurāṇika narrator) describing the scene (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Menā

Tags

• Dynasties
• Puranic narrative
• Royal court
• Description (kāvya-style)
• Palace imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is descriptive and courtly; it does not discuss pralaya, creation, or cosmic dissolution, but sets a narrative scene inside a palace.

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

Indirectly, it reflects royal/household prosperity and cultured courtly life (a well-appointed palace and dignified presence), but it does not give a direct dharma injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it references a “mahā-harmya” (great mansion) and “ratna-bhitti” (jewel-inlaid wall), useful as contextual vocabulary for elite palace/mandapa interiors rather than a formal Vastu rule.