Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 53

Devanagari script

हस्तौ च पञ्चसप्तत्या मार्गणैर्दशभिर्धनुः मार्गणैर् बर्हिपत्त्राङ्गैस् तैलधौतैरजिह्मगैः //

Transliteration

hastau ca pañcasaptatyā mārgaṇairdaśabhirdhanuḥ mārgaṇair barhipattrāṅgais tailadhautairajihmagaiḥ //

Translation

In beiden Händen soll er mit fünfundsiebzig Pfeilen dargestellt werden; dazu ein Bogen mit zehn Pfeilen—Pfeile mit Pfauenfeder-Schäften, wohl geölt und vollkommen gerade, ohne Krümmung.

Word by Word

• हस्तौ (hastau): in the two hands

• च (ca): and

• पञ्चसप्तत्या (pañcasaptatyā): with seventy-five

• मार्गणैः (mārgaṇaiḥ): with arrows

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• धनुः (dhanuḥ): a bow

• मार्गणैः (mārgaṇaiḥ): with arrows

• बर्हिपत्त्राङ्गैः (barhipattrāṅgaiḥ): having limbs/shafts adorned with peacock-feathers

• तैलधौतैः (tailadhautaiḥ): well-oiled / polished with oil

• अजिह्मगैः (ajihmagaiḥ): not crooked, straight

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on iconographic specifications)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Weapons
• Temple Art
• Vastu Shastra

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to iconographic instruction, specifying how a bow-bearing figure should be equipped and portrayed.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic kingship and household piety by prescribing correct standards for sacred images used in temples and worship—maintaining proper ritual order and cultural continuity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-making) details: the count and quality of weapons—arrows with peacock-feathered shafts, oiled and straight—guiding sculptors and ritual patrons in producing ritually valid temple icons.