Shloka 38

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

नानावर्णः स पार्श्वेषु पूर्वान्ते श्वेत उच्यते पीतं तु दक्षिणं तस्य भृङ्गिपत्त्रनिभं परम् उत्तरं तस्य रक्तं वै इति वर्णसमन्वितः //

Transliteration

nānāvarṇaḥ sa pārśveṣu pūrvānte śveta ucyate pītaṃ tu dakṣiṇaṃ tasya bhṛṅgipattranibhaṃ param uttaraṃ tasya raktaṃ vai iti varṇasamanvitaḥ //

Translation

He is described as multicolored on the sides: at the eastern end he is said to be white; on his southern side he is yellow, like the wing of the bhṛṅgi bee; and on his northern side he is indeed red—thus endowed with the prescribed colors.

Word by Word

• nānā-varṇaḥ: of many colors

• saḥ: he/that (icon/deity-form)

• pārśveṣu: on the sides/flanks

• pūrva-ante: at the eastern end/side

• śvetaḥ: white

• ucyate: is said/is prescribed

• pītam: yellow

• tu: and/indeed

• dakṣiṇam: the southern (side)

• tasya: of him/of that

• bhṛṅgi-pattra-nibham: resembling the leaf/wing of a bhṛṅgī (a bee/wasp

• param: excellent/supreme (as a comparison/intensifier)

• uttaram: the northern (side)

• tasya: of him/of that

• raktam: red

• vai: indeed

• iti: thus

• varṇa-samanvitaḥ: furnished/characterized by (these) colors.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the iconography/ritual discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Directions (East, South, North)
• Varṇa (ritual/iconographic colors)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Vastu Shastra
• Directional Colors
• Ritual Design

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to iconographic instruction, prescribing how sacred forms are colored according to direction (east/south/north).

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

It supports dharmic duty indirectly: kings and householders who sponsor temples and rituals are instructed to follow correct iconographic standards (directional colors) to ensure rites are performed in accordance with śāstra.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes directional symbolism used in temple painting and image-making: the icon’s eastern aspect is white, southern is yellow, and northern is red—guidance relevant to vastu-aligned placement and ritual correctness.