Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Iconographic Standards for the Navagrahas

Devanagari script

रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरः शक्तिशूलगदाधरः चतुर्भुजः श्वेतरोमा वरदः स्याद् धरासुतः //

Transliteration

raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ śaktiśūlagadādharaḥ caturbhujaḥ śvetaromā varadaḥ syād dharāsutaḥ //

Translation

Dharāsuta should be depicted wearing a red garland and red garments, holding a spear (śakti), a trident, and a mace; four-armed, white-haired, and granting boons.

Word by Word

• rakta: red

• mālyāmbara-dharaḥ: wearing garland and garments

• śakti: spear/lance

• śūla: trident

• gadā: mace/club

• -dharaḥ: bearing/holding

• catur-bhujaḥ: four-armed

• śveta-romā: white-haired/white-bodied (lit. ‘white hair’)

• varadaḥ: boon-giver

• syāt: should be/is to be

• dharā-sutaḥ: ‘son of the Earth’ (name/epithet of the deity to be iconographically formed)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on iconography)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharāsuta

Tags

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

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it gives iconographic specifications (color, arms, weapons, and boon-bestowing gesture) for depicting a deity called Dharāsuta.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through correct temple patronage: a king or householder should commission and worship properly formed images according to śāstric marks, ensuring ritually valid public and domestic worship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It is a pratima-lakṣaṇa rule: the deity’s murti should be made with specific color symbolism (red attire/garland), four arms, and prescribed weapons (spear, trident, mace), with a varada (boon-giving) aspect—key for temple installation and consecration rites.