Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा नागो वै हेमतालध्वजः प्रभुः शेषो ऽनन्तो महाभागो दुष्प्रकम्प्यः प्रकम्पितः //

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā nāgo vai hematāladhvajaḥ prabhuḥ śeṣo 'nanto mahābhāgo duṣprakampyaḥ prakampitaḥ //

Translation

The thousand-headed serpent—Lord Śeṣa, the infinite Ananta—majestic and sovereign, bearing a banner like a golden palm, was stirred; he, who is ordinarily unshakable, became shaken.

Word by Word

• sahasra-śīrṣā: thousand-headed

• nāgaḥ: serpent (Nāga)

• vai: indeed

• hema-tāla-dhvajaḥ: having a golden palm-tree as his banner / bearing a banner like a golden tāla (palm)

• prabhuḥ: lord, sovereign

• śeṣaḥ: Śeṣa

• anantaḥ: Ananta, the Infinite

• mahā-bhāgaḥ: greatly fortunate/august

• duṣ-prakampyaḥ: difficult to shake, unshakable

• prakampitaḥ: shaken, made to tremble

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relaying the Purāṇic account within the Matsya Purana’s pralaya framework

Entities Mentioned

• Śeṣa
• Ananta
• Nāga

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Support
• Vishnu Iconography
• Mythic Cosmology
• Ananta-Shesha

FAQs

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

It depicts a pralaya-like upheaval so intense that even Śeṣa-Ananta—normally described as unshakable—begins to tremble, signaling cosmic-scale disturbance.

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

Indirectly, it underscores impermanence and the need for dharma-based conduct: even the cosmic supports can be shaken, so kings and householders should rule/live with restraint, preparedness, and devotion rather than pride in stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not giving a direct Vāstu rule, it contributes to iconographic visualization: Śeṣa/Ananta is marked as a thousand-headed nāga with a golden-banner motif—useful for pratīmā-lakṣaṇa (iconographic identification) in temple imagery.