Shloka 52

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

वातापी भक्षितो येन समुद्रः शोषितः पुरा लोपामुद्रापतिः श्रीमान् यो ऽसौ तस्मै नमो नमः //

Transliteration

vātāpī bhakṣito yena samudraḥ śoṣitaḥ purā lopāmudrāpatiḥ śrīmān yo 'sau tasmai namo namaḥ //

Translation

Salutations again and again to that illustrious one—the husband of Lopāmudrā—by whom Vātāpi was devoured, and by whom the ocean was once dried up.

Word by Word

• वातापी (vātāpī): Vātāpi (the asura/demon)

• भक्षितः (bhakṣitaḥ): devoured, eaten

• येन (yena): by whom

• समुद्रः (samudraḥ): the ocean, sea

• शोषितः (śoṣitaḥ): dried up, made to evaporate

• पुरा (purā): formerly, once

• लोपामुद्रापतिः (lopāmudrāpatiḥ): husband of Lopāmudrā (Agastya)

• श्रीमान् (śrīmān): illustrious, glorious, revered

• यः (yaḥ): who

• असौ (asau): that very one

• तस्मै (tasmai): to him

• नमो नमः (namo namaḥ): salutations, repeated homage

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) or the Purāṇic voice offering a stotra-like salutation (contextual eulogy within the chapter)

Entities Mentioned

• Agastya
• Lopāmudrā
• Vātāpi
• Ocean (Samudra)

Tags

• Rishi-Charita
• Stotra
• Agastya
• Mythic Deeds
• Puranic Legends

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic pralaya directly; it highlights a rishi’s extraordinary tapas-śakti—power so great it can dry up even the ocean—often used in Purāṇas to signal mastery over nature rather than universal dissolution.

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

By praising Agastya’s protection of the world from destructive beings (Vātāpi) and his austere power, the verse implicitly supports the ideal that rulers and householders should honor sages, uphold dharma, and seek guidance from tapasvins who safeguard social and cosmic order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears here; its ritual takeaway is stotra-prayoga—reciting salutations to revered rishis like Agastya as part of devotional praise and dharmic remembrance within Purāṇic practice.