Shloka 46

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

अति चन्द्रं च सूर्यं च शिखिनं च स्वयंप्रभा दीप्यते नाकपृष्ठस्था भासयन्तीव भास्करम् //

Transliteration

ati candraṃ ca sūryaṃ ca śikhinaṃ ca svayaṃprabhā dīpyate nākapṛṣṭhasthā bhāsayantīva bhāskaram //

Translation

Abiding on the very surface of heaven, she shines by her own radiance—outshining the moon, the sun, and even fire—seeming, as it were, to illuminate the Sun itself.

Word by Word

• ati: beyond, surpassing

• candraṃ: the moon

• ca: and

• sūryaṃ: the sun

• ca: and

• śikhinaṃ: fire (the flame-bearing one)

• ca: and

• svayaṃprabhā: self-luminous, shining by her own light

• dīpyate: blazes, shines forth

• nākapṛṣṭha-sthā: situated on the surface/crest of heaven (svarga)

• bhāsayantī-iva: as though illuminating

• bhāskaram: the Sun (the radiant one).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in the broader Matsya–Manu dialogue), describing a celestial scene

Entities Mentioned

• Chandra
• Surya
• Agni
• Naka (Svarga)

Tags

• Svarga
• Cosmic light
• Iconography
• Puranic cosmology
• Divine radiance

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing Pralaya directly; it emphasizes the Puranic cosmological motif of transcendent, self-born radiance in heavenly realms that exceeds ordinary cosmic lights (sun, moon, fire).

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Matsya Purana’s value of tejas (spiritual splendor): righteous conduct, charity, and ritual purity are traditionally said to lead to higher realms characterized by extraordinary luminosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or temple-rule detail appears here; however, the imagery of surpassing solar radiance parallels iconographic ideals where a deity’s or divine figure’s prabhā (halo/aura) is depicted as self-luminous and supreme.