Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटीं चास्य ददृशुर्दानवा रणे ललाटस्थां त्रिशूलाङ्कां गङ्गां त्रिपथगामिव //

Transliteration

triśikhāṃ bhrukuṭīṃ cāsya dadṛśurdānavā raṇe lalāṭasthāṃ triśūlāṅkāṃ gaṅgāṃ tripathagāmiva //

Translation

In the battle, the Dānavas beheld upon his brow a three-crested furrow of frown—marked with the sign of a trident—like the Gaṅgā herself flowing in the three paths.

Word by Word

• triśikhām: three-crested/three-peaked

• bhrukuṭīm: frown, knitted brow

• ca: and

• asya: of him

• dadṛśuḥ: they saw

• dānavāḥ: the Dānavas (demons, descendants of Danu)

• raṇe: in battle

• lalāṭa-sthām: situated on the forehead

• triśūla-aṅkām: bearing the mark/sign of a trident

• gaṅgām: the river Gaṅgā

• tripatha-gām: going in three courses (heaven, earth, underworld)

• iva: like

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene to the sages (traditional Purāṇic frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Triśūla (trident)
• Gaṅgā (Tripathagā)

Tags

• Iconography
• Battle imagery
• Śaiva symbols
• Divine wrath
• Purāṇic simile

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it uses the image of Tripathagā Gaṅgā (flowing in three realms) as a cosmic simile to convey overwhelming divine power and presence.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic that adharma (here embodied by hostile Dānavas) is confronted by divine or righteous force; for kings, it supports the ideal of protecting order and punishing aggression, while householders are reminded to align with dharma rather than demonic impulses such as violence and arrogance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The triśūla-marked forehead and the fierce brow are iconographic cues useful in pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-identification): temple art can depict a wrathful, battle-ready deity with a prominent brow/frown and trident symbolism, and the Tripathagā Gaṅgā simile signals a sacred, cosmic attribute suitable for ritual contemplation.