Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Genealogy of Kaśyapa: Ādityas

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट्रस् तथा सूर्यश् चन्द्रश्चन्द्रांशुतापनः निकुम्भनाभो गुर्वक्षः कुक्षिभीमो विभीषणः //

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭras tathā sūryaś candraścandrāṃśutāpanaḥ nikumbhanābho gurvakṣaḥ kukṣibhīmo vibhīṣaṇaḥ //

Translation

Also (are named) Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Sūrya (the Sun); Candra (the Moon); Candrāṃśu-tāpana, “the heater by moon-rays”; Nikumbha-nābha, “he whose navel is like Nikumbha”; Gurv-akṣa, “heavy-eyed”; Kukṣi-bhīma, “terrible in the belly”; and Vibhīṣaṇa.

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhṛtarāṣṭra (a proper name)

• तथा: and/also

• सूर्यः: Sūrya, the Sun

• चन्द्रः: Candra, the Moon

• चन्द्रांशुतापनः: candrāṃśu-tāpana, one who causes heat/burning by moonbeams (an epithet/name)

• निकुम्भनाभः: nikumbha-nābha, one with a navel likened to Nikumbha (epithet/name)

• गुर्वक्षः: gurv-akṣa, heavy-eyed/large-eyed (epithet/name)

• कुक्षिभीमः: kukṣi-bhīma, fearsome in the belly/midsection (epithet/name)

• विभीषणः: Vibhīṣaṇa (a proper name, famed as Rāvaṇa’s righteous brother).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) presenting a name-catalogue within the Matsya Purana’s early enumerative material

Entities Mentioned

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Sūrya
• Candra
• Vibhīṣaṇa

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Name-list
• Puranic catalogues
• Epic connections

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as a catalogue of names/epithets, a common Purāṇic method for preserving traditional memory and lineages rather than narrating cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly: Purāṇic name-lists anchor dharma through lineage and exemplars—figures like Sūrya and Candra underpin royal legitimacy (solar/lunar lines), while Vibhīṣaṇa is remembered as a model of righteous allegiance and ethical choice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught in this specific śloka; it is primarily onomastic (names). Its practical value is contextual—helping place later ritual, dynasty, and temple-donation narratives within recognized Purāṇic personages.