Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

हंसकुक्कुटवक्त्राश्च व्यादितास्या भयावहाः सिंहास्या लेलिहानाश्च काकगृध्रमुखास्तथा //

Transliteration

haṃsakukkuṭavaktrāśca vyāditāsyā bhayāvahāḥ siṃhāsyā lelihānāśca kākagṛdhramukhāstathā //

Translation

Some bore the faces of swans and cocks; others, with gaping mouths, were terrifying. Some had lion faces with tongues lolling out, and others had the faces of crows and vultures as well.

Word by Word

• हंस (haṃsa): swan

• कुक्कुट (kukkuṭa): cock/rooster

• वक्त्र (vaktra): face/mouth

• च (ca): and

• व्यादित-आस्य (vyādita-āsya): having a wide-open mouth

• भयावह (bhayāvaha): fearsome/bringing fear

• सिंह-आस्य (siṃha-āsya): lion-faced

• लेलिहान (lelihāna): licking/lolling the tongue

• काक (kāka): crow

• गृध्र (gṛdhra): vulture

• मुख (mukha): face

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the description within the Matsya Purana’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Haṃsa (swan)
• Kukkuṭa (rooster)
• Siṃha (lion)
• Kāka (crow)
• Gṛdhra (vulture)

Tags

• Iconography
• Portents
• Bhayānaka
• Pratima-Lakshana
• Ritual Omens

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe cosmic creation or pralaya directly; it catalogs fear-inducing hybrid faces as ominous manifestations, typically used in Purāṇic narration to signal disorder, danger, or inauspicious conditions.

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

Such descriptions function as warnings: a king or householder is expected to respond to inauspicious signs with restraint, protection of dependents, and corrective rites (śānti/pravṛtti toward dharma), rather than panic or adharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While no building rule is stated, the imagery aligns with śānti-ritual logic used alongside Vāstu/temple contexts: terrifying, inauspicious forms are treated as indicators for pacificatory rites and purification before or during major undertakings.