Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Narasimha’s Victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Catalogue of Apocalyptic Omens

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच खराः खरमुखाश्चैव मकराशीविषाननाः ईहामृगमुखाश्चान्ये वराहमुखसंस्थिताः //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca kharāḥ kharamukhāścaiva makarāśīviṣānanāḥ īhāmṛgamukhāścānye varāhamukhasaṃsthitāḥ //

Translation

Sūta said: “Some are (like) wild asses—indeed, ass-faced; some have the faces of makaras and of venomous serpents; others are īhāmṛga-faced, and some are formed with the face of a boar.”

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ uvāca: Sūta said

• kharāḥ: wild asses / kharas

• kharamukhāḥ: ass-faced

• ca eva: and indeed

• makara: makara (mythic aquatic creature)

• āśīviṣa: venomous serpent

• ānanāḥ: faces / mouth-faced

• īhāmṛga: īhāmṛga (mythic/imagined beast used in art and iconography)

• mukhāḥ: faced

• ca anye: and others

• varāha: boar

• mukha-saṃsthitāḥ: situated/formed with a (particular) face

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta Ugrashravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Makara
• Āśīviṣa (venomous serpent)
• Īhāmṛga
• Varāha (boar)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Mythic Creatures
• Temple Art
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it catalogues mythic and hybrid-faced forms, a typical feature of iconographic and cosmological descriptions rather than flood/dissolution narrative.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders who sponsor temples and images are expected to follow authoritative descriptions of forms and motifs; this verse contributes to that descriptive tradition.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It points to sculptural/ornamental motifs (makara, īhāmṛga, varāha-faced forms) commonly used in temple iconography and architectural decoration, guiding what kinds of composite figures may be represented.