Matsya Purana — Brahmā’s Four Faces, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

उत्पतन्त्यास् तदाकारा आलोकनकुतूहलात् सृष्ट्यर्थं यत् कृतं तेन तपः परमदारुणम् //

Transliteration

utpatantyās tadākārā ālokanakutūhalāt sṛṣṭyarthaṃ yat kṛtaṃ tena tapaḥ paramadāruṇam //

Translation

جب وہ نمودار ہو رہی تھی اور اسی صورت کو اختیار کر رہی تھی، اپنے ہی ظہور کو دیکھنے کے تجسّس سے اُس نے تخلیق کے مقصد کے لیے نہایت سخت ریاضت کی۔

Word by Word

• utpatantyāḥ: of her who was rising/emerging

• tad-ākārā: having that form/that very shape

• ālokana-kutūhalāt: from curiosity to look upon/observe

• sṛṣṭi-artham: for the sake/purpose of creation

• yat: which/that

• kṛtam: was done/performed

• tena: by him/therefore

• tapaḥ: austerity, ascetic heat

• parama-dāruṇam: extremely harsh, most formidable

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating cosmological origins to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Creation (Sृष्टि)
• Tapas

Tags

• Creation
• Tapas
• Cosmology
• Sarga
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It highlights creation (sṛṣṭi) as being propelled by intense tapas—ascetic potency—suggesting that manifesting forms arise through a deliberate, severe spiritual exertion rather than by chance.

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

It frames disciplined effort (tapas) as the engine of constructive outcomes; by analogy, a king or householder sustains order and prosperity through self-restraint, purposeful action, and commitment to dharmic goals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or iconographic rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of tapas (austerity/observance) as a prerequisite power for initiating sacred acts and generative undertakings.