Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

न तु वेत्सि चराचरभूतगतं भवभावमतीव महानुच्छ्रितः प्रभवः / पुनरर्थिवचो ऽभिविस्तृतश्रवणोपमकौतुकभावकृतः //

Transliteration

na tu vetsi carācarabhūtagataṃ bhavabhāvamatīva mahānucchritaḥ prabhavaḥ / punararthivaco 'bhivistṛtaśravaṇopamakautukabhāvakṛtaḥ //

Translation

కానీ మీరు చరాచర భూతాలలో వ్యాపించిన ‘భవ’ యొక్క గంభీర స్వరూపాన్ని యథార్థంగా ఎరుగరు; అలాగే అత్యంత మహత్తరమైన, ఉన్నతమైన ప్రభవం (మూలకారణం)నూ కాదు. అందుచేత జిజ్ఞాసువు మాటలచే మరల ప్రేరేపింపబడి, ఆశ్చర్యభావంతో, శ్రోత చెవులు మరింత విస్తరించినట్లుగా అనిపించే విస్తృత ఉపదేశంగా అతడు ప్రత్యుత్తరం ఇచ్చాడు.

Word by Word

• na: not

• tu: however/yet

• vetsi: you know/you understand

• cara-acara: moving and unmoving

• bhūta-gatam: present in/entered into beings

• bhava-bhāvam: the state/nature of becoming (worldly existence)

• atīva: exceedingly

• mahān: great

• ucchritaḥ: exalted/lofty

• prabhavaḥ: the Origin/Source (Supreme cause)

• punaḥ: again

• arthin-vacaḥ: the words of the petitioner/seeker

• abhivistṛta: greatly expanded

• śravaṇa-upama: comparable to (widened) hearing/ears, i.e., to make one hear fully

• kautuka-bhāva: a mood of wonder/curiosity

• kṛtaḥ: made/caused (i.e., he proceeded/was moved to speak).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in dialogue responding to the seeker, traditionally Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Prabhava (Supreme Source)
• Cara-Acara Bhuta (moving and unmoving beings)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Metaphysics
• Creation
• Inquiry
• Bhava

FAQs

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

It frames pralaya/creation knowledge as rooted in understanding the Prabhava (supreme source) that pervades all beings (moving and unmoving); without knowing that underlying cause, one cannot grasp the deeper truth of cosmic cycles.

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

It emphasizes humility and disciplined inquiry: a ruler or householder should seek right knowledge of the world’s nature and its source, because governance and dharma become steady only when grounded in a clear understanding beyond mere appearances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse functions as a preface to an expanded teaching—useful as a doctrinal lead-in for later Matsya Purana instructions (including ritual or Vastu sections) by stressing proper questioning and attentive listening.