Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

रराज भग्ना सा शक्तिर् मृगेन्द्रेण महीतले सविस्फुलिङ्गा ज्वलिता महोल्केव दिवश्च्युता //

Transliteration

rarāja bhagnā sā śaktir mṛgendreṇa mahītale savisphuliṅgā jvalitā maholkeva divaścyutā //

Translation

Shattered by the Lion-like hero, that spear (śakti) lay upon the earth, blazing with sparks—shining like a great meteor fallen down from the sky.

Word by Word

• रराज (rarāja): shone, glittered

• भग्ना (bhagnā): broken, shattered

• सा (sā): that

• शक्तिः (śaktiḥ): spear, javelin-weapon

• मृगेन्द्रेण (mṛgendreṇa): by the lord of beasts, by the lion-like one/hero

• महीतले (mahītale): on the surface of the earth, on the ground

• स-विस्फुलिङ्गा (sa-visphuliṅgā): with sparks

• ज्वलिता (jvalitā): blazing, flaming

• महा-उल्का-इव (mahā-ulkā-iva): like a great meteor/fireball

• दिवः-च्युता (divaś-cyutā): fallen from heaven/sky.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode (martial description within the Purāṇic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Śakti (weapon)
• Mṛgendra (lion-like hero/epithet)

Tags

• Matsya Purana battle scene
• Puranic weapons
• Martial imagery
• Epic simile
• Rajavamsa narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it uses cosmic imagery (a meteor falling from the sky) as a poetic simile to intensify a battlefield moment.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Kṣatriya ideal found in Purāṇic royal narratives: decisive valor and the capacity to neutralize threats—here symbolized by the breaking of a powerful weapon.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the focus is weapon-imagery (śakti) and a celestial simile (mahā-ulkā) rather than temple-building or rites.