Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Iconographic Standards for the Navagrahas

Devanagari script

करालवदनः खड्गचर्मशूली वरप्रदः नीलसिंहासनस्थश्च राहुरत्र प्रशस्यते //

Transliteration

karālavadanaḥ khaḍgacarmaśūlī varapradaḥ nīlasiṃhāsanasthaśca rāhuratra praśasyate //

Translation

Here Rāhu is praised as one with a fearsome face—bearing a sword, a hide (as a shield), and a trident—granting boons, and seated upon a blue throne.

Word by Word

• कराल-वदनः (karāla-vadanaḥ): fearsome-faced

• खड्ग (khaḍga): sword

• चर्म (carma): hide/leather (as a shield)

• शूली (śūlī): trident-bearer

• वर-प्रदः (vara-pradaḥ): giver of boons

• नील (nīla): blue

• सिंहासन-स्थः (siṃhāsana-sthaḥ): seated on a throne

• च (ca): and

• राहुः (rāhuḥ): Rāhu

• अत्र (atra): here/in this context

• प्रशस्यते (praśasyate): is praised/commended.

Speaker

• Sūta / Purāṇic narrator (describing the praised form of Rāhu in the chapter’s stuti/iconography context)

Entities Mentioned

• Rāhu

Tags

• Iconography
• Grahas
• Rahu
• Stuti
• Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on praising Rāhu’s formidable iconographic form and his boon-granting nature.

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

By presenting Rāhu as “varaprada” (boon-giver), it supports the Purāṇic idea that kings and householders may perform graha-stuti or graha-śānti to reduce adversity and maintain orderly governance and domestic stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse provides pratīmā-lakṣaṇa cues (weapons, throne color/seat), useful for ritual visualization and for crafting or installing a graha image in a temple or shrine according to Matsya Purana-style iconographic conventions.