Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

*देवा ऊचुः भवान्ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च महेन्द्रो देवसत्तमः भवान्कर्ता विकर्ता च लोकानां प्रभवो ऽव्ययः //

Transliteration

*devā ūcuḥ bhavānbrahmā ca rudraśca mahendro devasattamaḥ bhavānkartā vikartā ca lokānāṃ prabhavo 'vyayaḥ //

Translation

The Devas said: “You are Brahmā, and you are Rudra; you are Mahendra, O best among the gods. You are the maker and the reshaper; you are the imperishable source from which the worlds arise.”

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods

• ūcuḥ: said

• bhavān: you

• brahmā: Brahmā

• ca: and

• rudraḥ: Rudra (Śiva)

• mahendraḥ: Mahendra (Indra)

• deva-sattamaḥ: O best among gods

• kartā: creator/maker

• vikartā: re-maker/transformer (one who reshapes)

• lokānām: of the worlds

• prabhavaḥ: origin/source

• avyayaḥ: imperishable/unchanging

Speaker

• Devas (the gods)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Brahma
• Rudra
• Mahendra (Indra)

Tags

• Stuti
• Trimurti
• CosmicFunctions
• Creation
• SupremeDeity

FAQs

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

It presents a single imperishable principle as the source of the worlds and as the power behind cosmic functions—creation and re-creation—implying that even across cycles like pralaya, the ultimate source remains avyaya (unchanging).

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

By framing authority as service to a higher, imperishable source, it supports the Purāṇic ethic that kingship and household life should mirror cosmic order—creating welfare, correcting disorder, and acting without ego as instruments of dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; however, the verse functions as a stuti, a common ritual preface that sanctifies later instructions by invoking the supreme source behind all divine powers.