Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

नाराचपङ्क्तिः सिंहस्य प्राप्ता रेजे ऽविदूरतः नीलोत्पलपलाशानां मालेवोज्ज्वलदर्शना //

Transliteration

nārācapaṅktiḥ siṃhasya prāptā reje 'vidūrataḥ nīlotpalapalāśānāṃ mālevojjvaladarśanā //

Translation

A row of iron arrows, having reached the lion, shone from not far away—bright to behold, like a garland made of blue-lotus petals.

Word by Word

• nārāca-paṅktiḥ: a line/row of iron arrows

• siṃhasya: of the lion

• prāptā: having reached/struck

• reje: shone, glittered

• avidūrataḥ: from nearby, not far away

• nīlotpala-palāśānām: of blue-lotus petals/leaves

• mālā iva: like a garland

• ujjvala-darśanā: brilliantly visible, radiant in appearance

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene (martial simile within the Purana’s narrative flow)

Entities Mentioned

• Siṃha (lion)
• Nārāca (iron arrow)

Tags

• Battle imagery
• Poetic simile
• Heroic narrative
• Matsya Purana episode
• Puranic literature

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a battlefield-style description, using a lotus-garland simile to depict arrows striking a lion.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Kshatriya ethos celebrated in Purāṇic narratives—valor, confrontation with danger, and the vivid depiction of combat—though no explicit royal duty (rājadharma) is stated in this line.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-architecture, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is purely an alaṅkāra-rich (ornate) poetic description of a martial moment.