Shloka 37

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

नरस्य कृत्वार्धतनुं सिंहस्यार्धतनुं तथा नारसिंहेन वपुषा पाणिं संस्पृश्य पाणिना //

Transliteration

narasya kṛtvārdhatanuṃ siṃhasyārdhatanuṃ tathā nārasiṃhena vapuṣā pāṇiṃ saṃspṛśya pāṇinā //

Translation

Fashioning half the body as that of a man and half as that of a lion, (the image) should be made with the Narasiṃha form, with one hand touching (or clasping) the other hand.

Word by Word

• नरस्य: of a man

• कृत्वा: having made/fashioned

• अर्धतनुं: half the body

• सिंहस्य: of a lion

• अर्धतनुं: half the body

• तथा: and likewise/also

• नारसिंहेन: in the Narasiṃha (man-lion) form

• वपुषा: with the body/form

• पाणिं: the hand

• संस्पृश्य: touching/clasping

• पाणिना: with (another) hand.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on iconographic rules)

Entities Mentioned

• Narasimha

Tags

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

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it gives a technical iconographic instruction for depicting Narasiṃha as half-man and half-lion with a specific hand-touching gesture.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through correct worship: kings and householders were expected to commission, install, and honor properly formed images in temples and shrines according to śāstric rules.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies a pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-feature): Narasiṃha should be sculpted with a half-man/half-lion body and a prescribed hand contact (a defined pose/mudrā), guiding temple artists and ritual installers.