Matsya Purana — Description of the Daitya–Dānava War Preparations and Maya’s Divine Chariots, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

व्यायतं किष्कुसाहस्रं धनुर्विस्फारयन्महत् वराहः प्रमुखे तस्थौ सप्ररोह इवाचलः //

Transliteration

vyāyataṃ kiṣkusāhasraṃ dhanurvisphārayanmahat varāhaḥ pramukhe tasthau sapraroha ivācalaḥ //

Translation

Stretching a mighty bow to the span of a thousand kiṣkus and twanging it with force, Varāha stood at the very front—motionless and towering, like a mountain with its ridges and outgrowths.

Word by Word

• vyāyatam: stretched/extended

• kiṣku-sāhasram: a thousand kiṣkus (a measure of length)

• dhanuḥ: bow

• visphārayan: causing to resound/twang, brandishing with a loud snap

• mahat: great, mighty

• varāhaḥ: Varāha (the Boar incarnation)

• pramukhe: in the forefront, at the head/front line

• tasthau: stood, remained stationed

• sa-prarohaḥ: with projections/outgrowths (ridges, spurs)

• iva: like

• acalaḥ: a mountain, the immovable one

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Purāṇic narrator describing Varāha

Entities Mentioned

• Varaha
• Dhanus (bow)
• Kiṣku (measure)

Tags

• Varaha
• Iconography
• Divine combat
• Heroic description
• Puranic narration

FAQs

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

Direct pralaya doctrine is not stated here; the verse instead heightens the avatāra’s cosmic power through martial imagery—Varāha’s immovable, mountain-like stance implies stabilizing force amid chaos.

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

It models kṣātra-vīrya (protective valor): standing at the front and facing danger first. In Purāṇic ethics, rulers should embody steadfastness and readiness to defend dharma, just as the deity takes the vanguard.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a Vāstu rule, the mountain simile supports iconographic visualization: Varāha is to be conceived as massive, stable, and awe-inspiring—useful for pratima-lakṣaṇa (image conception) and temple narrative panels depicting the avatāra.