Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

तस्यान्ते स महादेवो वासुदेवो जनार्दनः भारावतरणार्थाय त्रिधा विष्णुर्भविष्यति //

Transliteration

tasyānte sa mahādevo vāsudevo janārdanaḥ bhārāvataraṇārthāya tridhā viṣṇurbhaviṣyati //

Translation

At the end of that period, the Great Lord—Vāsudeva, Janārdana—Viṣṇu will manifest in a threefold manner in order to lighten the Earth’s burden.

Word by Word

tasyaof that

anteat the end

saḥhe

mahādevaḥthe Great Lord

vāsudevaḥVāsudeva (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa as the divine Lord)

janārdanaḥJanārdana (the remover of affliction, an epithet of Viṣṇu)

bhāra-avataraṇa-arthāyafor the purpose of causing the burden to descend/be removed (i.e., relieving the Earth’s load)

tridhāin three ways/threefold

viṣṇuḥViṣṇu

bhaviṣyatiwill be/will come to be (will manifest).

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

Mahādeva (as ‘Great Lord’ epithet of Viṣṇu here)VāsudevaJanārdanaViṣṇuBhūdevī (Earth, implied by ‘burden of the Earth’)

FAQs

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

Rather than describing Pralaya directly, the verse points to a yuga-ending crisis where Earth becomes overburdened; Viṣṇu’s descent is presented as a corrective intervention that restores cosmic balance.

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

It frames governance and social order as part of maintaining Earth’s ‘burden’ within limits—when adharma and oppression accumulate, divine intervention follows; by implication, kings and householders should uphold dharma to prevent societal collapse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the practical takeaway is thematic—temple worship and righteous rites are aligned with dharma-maintenance, which the verse links to the divine mission of restoring balance.