Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

ये ग्रहाः सर्वलोकस्य क्षये प्रादुर्भवन्ति वै ते सर्वे गगने दृष्टा व्यचरन्त यथासुखम् //

Transliteration

ye grahāḥ sarvalokasya kṣaye prādurbhavanti vai te sarve gagane dṛṣṭā vyacaranta yathāsukham //

Translation

Those celestial bodies that indeed manifest at the time of the world’s dissolution—all of them were seen in the sky, moving about freely at will.

Word by Word

• ये (ye): which/those

• ग्रहाः (grahāḥ): planets/celestial bodies (also ‘seizers’, ominous astral forces)

• सर्वलोकस्य (sarvalokasya): of the entire world/of all realms

• क्षये (kṣaye): at the destruction/decline (dissolution)

• प्रादुर्भवन्ति (prādurbhavanti): appear/manifest

• वै (vai): indeed

• ते (te): they

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• गगने (gagane): in the sky

• दृष्टा (dṛṣṭāḥ): seen/observed

• व्यचरन्त (vyacaranta): moved/wandered about

• यथासुखम् (yathāsukham): as they pleased/at ease/according to their own will

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s pralaya-related account; dialogue context ultimately framed around Matsya’s teaching to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Grahāḥ (celestial bodies/planets)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Omens
• Astral Portents
• Matsya Purana
• Dissolution

FAQs

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

It describes a pralaya-omen: unusual manifestations of grahas (celestial bodies/astral forces) that appear and roam the sky freely, signaling cosmic breakdown and disorder.

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

As an omen-text, it implies that rulers and householders should heed cosmic portents, intensify dharmic conduct, and undertake protective rites when signs of widespread calamity appear.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the recognition of astral irregularities as triggers for śānti (pacificatory) observances and protective ceremonies.