Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

खेचराश्च सतीपुत्राः पातालतलवासिनः गणस्तथा परो रौद्रो मेघनामाङ्कुशायुधः //

Transliteration

khecarāśca satīputrāḥ pātālatalavāsinaḥ gaṇastathā paro raudro meghanāmāṅkuśāyudhaḥ //

Translation

There are also the sky-roaming beings, the sons of Satī, and those dwelling in the nether regions (Pātāla). Likewise, another fierce (raudra) gaṇa is mentioned—Megha by name—whose weapon is a goad (aṅkuśa).

Word by Word

• खेचराः (khecarāḥ): sky-movers, aerial beings

• च (ca): and

• सतीपुत्राः (satīputrāḥ): sons of Satī (Rudra’s divine progeny/attendants)

• पातालतलवासिनः (pātāla-tala-vāsinaḥ): dwellers of the netherworld levels

• गणः (gaṇaḥ): attendant troop/host

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• परः (paraḥ): another, further

• रौद्रः (raudraḥ): fierce, belonging to Rudra

• मेघनाम (megha-nāma): named ‘Megha’

• अङ्कुशायुधः (aṅkuśa-āyudhaḥ): having a goad as his weapon

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s account; within the wider dialogue tradition attributed to Lord Matsya’s teaching to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Satī
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Rudra-gaṇas
• Pātāla
• Megha (a gaṇa)

Tags

• Rudra-gaṇa
• Cosmology
• Pātāla
• Divine retinues
• Puranic taxonomy

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it catalogs classes of Rudra’s attendants across realms (sky and Pātāla), showing the Purāṇic cosmic ordering of beings rather than dissolution events.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Matsya Purāṇa’s broader ethic of governance through knowledge of cosmic hierarchy—kings and householders uphold dharma by honoring deities and their hosts through proper worship and restraint, acknowledging forces described as ‘raudra’ (fierce).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse aids identification of Rudra’s gaṇas in Śaiva contexts; such catalogues inform offerings and invocations in worship. It does not give explicit Vāstu or temple-building rules, but it contributes to iconographic/ritual taxonomy (e.g., recognizing a gaṇa ‘Megha’ with an aṅkuśa).