Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

सप्त धूम्रनिभा घोराः सूर्या दिवि समुत्थिताः सोमस्य गगनस्थस्य ग्रहास्तिष्ठन्ति शृङ्गगाः //

Transliteration

sapta dhūmranibhā ghorāḥ sūryā divi samutthitāḥ somasya gaganasthasya grahāstiṣṭhanti śṛṅgagāḥ //

Translation

Seven dreadful, smoke-hued suns arise in the sky; and the planets stand upon the Moon, which is stationed in the firmament, as though perched on its horns.

Word by Word

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• धूम्रनिभाः (dhūmra-nibhāḥ): smoke-colored, ash-hued

• घोराः (ghorāḥ): dreadful, terrifying

• सूर्या (sūryāḥ): suns

• दिवि (divi): in the sky, in heaven

• समुत्थिताः (samutthitāḥ): arisen, risen up

• सोमस्य (somasya): of the Moon (Soma)

• गगनस्थस्य (gagana-sthasya): situated in the firmament/sky

• ग्रहाः (grahāḥ): planets, celestial “seizers”

• तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti): stand, remain, appear fixed

• शृङ्गगाः (śṛṅga-gāḥ): going on/standing upon the horns (horn-perched), i.e., as if on the Moon’s horns.

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s teaching on omens; doctrinal voice attributed to Lord Matsya in the Manu dialogue-context)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Soma (Moon)
• Grahas (planets)

Tags

• Jyotisha
• Nimitta
• Pralaya
• Cosmic omens
• Sun-Moon

FAQs

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

The imagery of “seven smoke-hued suns” and abnormal planetary positions is presented as a catastrophic celestial portent—an omen-class description commonly associated with impending large-scale upheaval, drought, or dissolution-like conditions.

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

As a nimitta (omen) verse, it implies vigilance: rulers and householders should respond to ominous astral signs with restraint, charity, protective rites, and dharmic governance—standard Purāṇic guidance when cosmic order appears disturbed.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule is stated, but the verse functions as a trigger for śānti-karma (pacificatory rites). In temple/ritual practice, such portents are traditionally met with appeasement ceremonies to restore auspiciousness.