Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

महेन्द्रस्तोयदैः सार्धं सहस्राक्षो महाद्युतिः महता तोयवर्षेण शमयामास पावकम् //

Transliteration

mahendrastoyadaiḥ sārdhaṃ sahasrākṣo mahādyutiḥ mahatā toyavarṣeṇa śamayāmāsa pāvakam //

Translation

Then Mahendra—Sahasrākṣa, the great-lustrous Indra—together with the rain-bearing (clouds), quenched the fire by a mighty downpour of water.

Word by Word

• महेन्द्रः (mahendraḥ): Mahendra/Indra

• तोयदैः (toyadaiḥ): with the water-givers, i.e., rain-bearing clouds

• सार्धम् (sārdham): together with

• सहस्राक्षः (sahasrākṣaḥ): the thousand-eyed one (Indra)

• महाद्युतिः (mahādyutiḥ): of great radiance/splendour

• महता (mahatā): by a great/mighty

• तोयवर्षेण (toyavarṣeṇa): by a rain of water, by a downpour

• शमयामास (śamayāmāsa): caused to subside, quenched, pacified

• पावकम् (pāvakam): fire (Agni/conflagration).

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice) describing Indra’s action (dialogue context not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Mahendra/Sahasrākṣa)
• Clouds (Toyada)
• Agni (Pāvaka)

Tags

• Devas
• Indra
• Agni
• Rain
• Cosmic order

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it portrays cosmic regulation—fire (Agni) is restrained by rain under Indra’s agency—illustrating how the universe is maintained by balancing elemental forces.

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

By analogy, it models righteous governance: just as Indra suppresses destructive fire with timely rain, a king or householder should quell harmful excess (conflict, greed, disorder) through appropriate, measured action that restores stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-rule instruction appears here; indirectly, it reflects a ritual-ecological idea common in Purāṇas—rain as a purifying, pacifying force used in rites to cool/appease fiery energies (Agni) and avert calamity.