Shloka 46

Matsya Purana — Nārāyaṇa as Haṃsa in the Cosmic Ocean: Vedic Yajña-Puruṣa and Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vi...

Devanagari script

ततः प्रहृष्टवदनो विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः मूर्ध्नि बद्धाञ्जलिपुटो मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः //

Transliteration

tataḥ prahṛṣṭavadano vismayotphullalocanaḥ mūrdhni baddhāñjalipuṭo mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ //

Translation

Then the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya—his face radiant with joy and his eyes widened in wonder—raised his joined palms to his head in reverent salutation.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• prahṛṣṭa-vadanaḥ: with a delighted/joyful face

• vismaya-utphulla-locanaḥ: with eyes opened wide in amazement

• mūrdhni: on (his) head

• baddha-añjali-puṭaḥ: having placed/held the joined palms (añjali) together (in salute)

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Markandeya

• mahā-tapāḥ: great ascetic, one of great austerities

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Mārkaṇḍeya’s gesture; commonly framed via Sūta’s narration in Purāṇic discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Markandeya

Tags

• Bhakti
• Reverence
• Rishi
• Darshana
• Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it portrays a sage’s awed reverence, a typical narrative cue that a significant revelation or divine presence has just been encountered.

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

It models ideal conduct—humility, respect, and disciplined etiquette (añjali)—which the Matsya Purana repeatedly treats as foundational virtues for rulers and householders when approaching teachers, elders, and sacred rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the añjali salutation raised to the head, a formal act of veneration used in pūjā and reverential encounters; no Vāstu or temple-construction rule is stated in this verse.