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

In diesem ikonographischen Schema sollen (die Bilder von) Brahmā, Viṣṇu und Arka (der Sonne) mit goldenen Hüften gefertigt werden; für die übrigen Gottheiten ist das, was anderswo als Silber vorgeschrieben ist, hier vollständig aus Gold herzustellen.

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.