Matsya Purana — The Rite of Gifting the ‘Silver Mountain’, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्कवान्कार्यो नितम्बो ऽत्र हिरण्मयः राजतं स्याद्यदन्येषां सर्वं तदिह काञ्चनम् //

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇvarkavānkāryo nitambo 'tra hiraṇmayaḥ rājataṃ syādyadanyeṣāṃ sarvaṃ tadiha kāñcanam //

Translation

في هذا النسق الأيقوني، ينبغي أن تُصاغ (صور) براهما وفيشنو وأركا (Arka، إله الشمس) بحيث تكون الأَرداف من ذهب؛ وأما سائر الآلهة، فما كان يُنَصُّ عليه في موضع آخر أنه من فضّة، فيُصنع هنا كلّه من ذهب.

Word by Word

• brahma: Brahmā

• viṣṇu: Viṣṇu

• arka: Arka, the Sun-god

• vāṅkāryaḥ (vān-kāryaḥ): should be made/constructed (as specified)

• nitambaḥ: hip, buttock/haunch (lower back-hip region of the image)

• atra: here, in this context/rule-set

• hiraṇmayaḥ: made of gold, golden

• rājataṃ: silver (made of silver)

• syāt: should be/is to be

• yad: that which

• anyeṣām: of others (other deities/figures)

• sarvam: all of that

• tad: that

• iha: here

• kāñcanam: gold, golden (made of gold).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Vastu/Iconography teaching section)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Arka (Surya)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Pratima Lakshana
• Iconography
• Temple Architecture
• Metallurgy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it gives technical iconography guidance about which parts of certain deity images should be made in gold versus silver.

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

It supports the dharmic duty of patrons (kings/householders) to commission correctly-made temple images and ritual objects, following scripture-based standards for materials and craftsmanship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies material hierarchy in pratima-making: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Sūrya images are given golden treatment for the hip region, and in this tradition other cases that might use silver are elevated to gold—guiding consecration-quality temple icon production.