Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Prologue to the Matsya Purana and the Manu–Pralaya Rescue Narrative

Devanagari script

भैरवत्वं भवस्यापि पुरारित्वं च केन हि कस्य हेतोः कपालित्वं जगाम वृषभध्वजः //

Transliteration

bhairavatvaṃ bhavasyāpi purāritvaṃ ca kena hi kasya hetoḥ kapālitvaṃ jagāma vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ //

Translation

By whom, indeed, did Bhava (Śiva) come to be known as Bhairava, and as the Slayer of Tripura? And for what reason did the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva) assume the state of being a skull-bearer (Kapālin)?

Word by Word

• भैरवत्वम् (bhairavatvam): the state/title of Bhairava (the fierce form)

• भवस्य (bhavasya): of Bhava/Śiva

• अपि (api): also/indeed

• पुरारित्वम् (purāritvam): the state of being the enemy/destroyer of the cities (Tripura)

• च (ca): and

• केन (kena): by whom/through what cause

• हि (hi): indeed

• कस्य (kasya): of what/for which

• हेतोः (hetoḥ): reason/cause

• कपालित्वम् (kapālitvam): skull-bearing ascetic condition (Kapālin-hood)

• जगाम (jagāma): went/attained/assumed

• वृषभध्वजः (vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ): the one whose banner bears the bull (Śiva).

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (questioning Lord Matsya)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhava (Shiva)
• Bhairava
• Tripura (implicit in purāri)
• Kapālin
• Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Shiva)

Tags

• Shaiva Epithets
• Iconography
• Puranic Theology
• Mythic Etiology
• Ritual Asceticism

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as an opening theological inquiry, asking for the origins (etiology) of Śiva’s fierce and ascetic epithets—Bhairava, Purāri, and Kapālin.

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

Indirectly, it models the kingly duty of seeking authoritative sacred knowledge: Manu’s questioning frames dharmic governance as grounded in understanding divine precedents, vows, and the moral causes behind renowned acts and titles.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural rules are not stated here, but the verse is ritually significant: it points to Śaiva forms (Bhairava) and vows (Kapālin), themes that commonly inform temple iconography, deity selection, and the rationale for specific worship modes in Purāṇic practice.