Shloka 79

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

प्रह्लादो विप्रचित्तिश्च गविष्ठश्च महासुरः सुरहन्ता सुनामा च प्रमतिः सुमतिर्वरः //

Transliteration

prahlādo vipracittiśca gaviṣṭhaśca mahāsuraḥ surahantā sunāmā ca pramatiḥ sumatirvaraḥ //

Translation

Prahlāda, Vipracitti, and Gaviṣṭha—the great Asura—along with Surahantā, Sunāmā, Pramati, and the excellent Sumati: these are (among) the renowned chiefs named in this lineage.

Word by Word

• प्रह्लादः (prahlādaḥ): Prahlāda

• विप्रचित्तिः (vipracittiḥ): Vipracitti (a Danava)

• च (ca): and

• गविष्ठः (gaviṣṭhaḥ): Gaviṣṭha (a named Asura)

• च (ca): and

• महासुरः (mahāsuraḥ): great Asura/demon-chief

• सुरहन्ता (surahantā): slayer of the Devas (a proper name/epithet)

• सुनामा (sunāmā): Sunāmā (one with a good name

• च (ca): and

• प्रमतिः (pramatiḥ): Pramati (proper name

• सुमतिः (sumatiḥ): Sumati (good-minded

• वरः (varaḥ): excellent, eminent.

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice within the Purāṇic recital), presenting a catalogue-style genealogy/roster

Entities Mentioned

• Prahlāda
• Vipracitti
• Gaviṣṭha
• Surahantā
• Sunāmā
• Pramati
• Sumati

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Daityas
• Danavas
• Asuras
• Puranic Catalogues

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it functions as a genealogical roster, preserving names of prominent Asura/Daitya figures within the Matsya Purana’s dynastic catalogues.

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

Indirectly, it supports Purāṇic historiography: by recording lineages and notable figures, it aids a king’s or scholar’s understanding of ancestral narratives and political-moral exemplars (e.g., Prahlāda’s famed devotion), though no explicit rājadharma or gṛhastha-dharma rule is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated in this śloka; it is a name-list verse rather than a Vāstu-śāstra, temple-architecture, or ritual-procedure instruction.