Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

चन्द्रसूर्यांशुसंकाशैः सागराम्बुसमावृतैः विद्युत्वान्सर्वतः श्रीमान् आयतः शतयोजनम् //

Transliteration

candrasūryāṃśusaṃkāśaiḥ sāgarāmbusamāvṛtaiḥ vidyutvānsarvataḥ śrīmān āyataḥ śatayojanam //

Translation

Resplendent like the rays of the moon and the sun, encircled by ocean-like waters, flashing with brilliance on every side, it extends to a length of a hundred yojanas.

Word by Word

• चन्द्र (candra): moon

• सूर्य (sūrya): sun

• अंशु (aṃśu): ray, beam

• संकाशैः (saṃkāśaiḥ): resembling, shining like

• सागर (sāgara): ocean

• अम्बु (ambu): water

• समावृतैः (samāvṛtaiḥ): surrounded, enclosed

• विद्युत्वान् (vidyutvān): lightning-like, radiant

• सर्वतः (sarvataḥ): on all sides

• श्रीमान् (śrīmān): splendid, auspicious, glorious

• आयतः (āyataḥ): extended, stretched

• शत (śata): hundred

• योजनम् (yojanam): yojana (a measure of distance).

Speaker

• Suta Goswami (narrating the Matsya Purana’s description)

Entities Mentioned

• Chandra
• Surya
• Sagara (ocean imagery)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Puranic cosmography
• Sacred measurements
• Temple architecture
• Radiance/Tejas

FAQs

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

It does not directly describe Pralaya; instead, it uses ocean-water imagery and cosmic radiance (moon/sun-like) to convey the vast scale and luminous grandeur of a described realm/structure.

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

Indirectly, it supports the ideal of royal/communal patronage: grand, auspicious, well-sited works—often with protective water boundaries—are portrayed as signs of prosperity (śrī) and orderly governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Key motifs are (1) measurable extent in yojanas (standardized sacred scale), (2) enclosure by waters (moats, tanks, circumferential water planning), and (3) prescribed brilliance/auspicious appearance (tejas, śrī) as marks of an ideal sacred or royal construction.