Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

वासुकिस्तक्षकश्चैव कर्कोटकधनंजयौ एलामुखः कालियश्च महापद्मश्च वीर्यवान् //

Transliteration

vāsukistakṣakaścaiva karkoṭakadhanaṃjayau elāmukhaḥ kāliyaśca mahāpadmaśca vīryavān //

Translation

Vāsuki and Takṣaka as well; Karkoṭaka and Dhanaṃjaya; Elāmukha and Kāliya; and the mighty Mahāpadma—these are the powerful Nāgas (serpent-lords).

Word by Word

• वासुकिः (vāsukiḥ): Vāsuki

• तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ): Takṣaka

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• कर्कोटक (karkoṭaka): Karkoṭaka

• धनंजयौ (dhanaṃjayau): the pair named Dhanaṃjaya (dual/listing form)

• एलामुखः (elāmukhaḥ): Elāmukha

• कालियः (kāliyaḥ): Kāliya

• महापद्मः (mahāpadmaḥ): Mahāpadma

• वीर्यवान् (vīryavān): mighty, valorous, powerful

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s account; the verse functions as a list within the narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Vāsuki
• Takṣaka
• Karkoṭaka
• Dhanaṃjaya
• Elāmukha
• Kāliya
• Mahāpadma
• Nāgas

Tags

• Nāga genealogy
• Puranic lists
• Sacred beings
• Cosmology
• Mythic taxonomy

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it preserves a Puranic catalogue of Nāga lords, supporting the Matsya Purāṇa’s broader cosmological mapping of beings across realms.

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

Indirectly, it serves as authoritative tradition (smṛti-style remembrance): knowing sacred lineages and cosmic orders is presented in Purāṇas as part of a learned king’s or householder’s cultural-religious literacy.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure appears here; however, Nāga names commonly inform temple/ritual invocations and protective iconography in later practice, where Nāgas are invoked for guardianship and auspiciousness.