Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Ila–Sudyumna Episode and the Expansion of the Ikṣvāku

Devanagari script

ततस्ते ददृशुः सर्वे वडबाम् अग्रतः स्थिताम् रत्नपर्याणकिरणदीप्तकायाम् अनुत्तमाम् //

Transliteration

tataste dadṛśuḥ sarve vaḍabām agrataḥ sthitām ratnaparyāṇakiraṇadīptakāyām anuttamām //

Translation

Then they all beheld, standing before them, a wondrous mare (Vaḍabā), unsurpassed, her body blazing with the radiance of rays reflected from jeweled ornaments.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• te: they

• dadṛśuḥ: saw

• sarve: all

• vaḍabām: a mare (female horse)

• agrataḥ: in front, before them

• sthitām: standing, stationed

• ratna: jewel

• paryāṇa: trappings/ornaments (harness, caparison)

• kiraṇa: ray, beam

• dīpta-kāyām: with a shining body

• anuttamām: incomparable, unsurpassed

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya–Manu narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Vaḍabā (the mare)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Omens
• Divine epiphany
• Matsya Avatara
• Puranic imagery

FAQs

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

It presents a striking, luminous apparition (the jeweled, radiant mare) as an omen-like manifestation within the lead-up to the pralaya sequence, emphasizing the extraordinary signs that precede cosmic upheaval.

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

By portraying an unmistakable marvel appearing directly before witnesses, the verse supports a Purāṇic ethic: rulers and householders should be attentive to dharmic signs and instructions that arise in times of crisis, responding with discipline and preparedness rather than denial.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule is stated; however, the focus on auspicious brilliance (ratna-kiraṇa-dīpti) aligns with ritual aesthetics where radiance, purity, and ornamentation signify divinity and auspicious presence.