Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — Secondary Creation: Appointment of Cosmic Regents and Consecration of Directi...

Devanagari script

सुपर्णमीशं पततामथाश्वराजानमुच्चैःश्रवसं चकार सिंहं मृगाणां वृषभं गवां च प्लक्षं पुनः सर्ववनस्पतीनाम् //

Transliteration

suparṇamīśaṃ patatāmathāśvarājānamuccaiḥśravasaṃ cakāra siṃhaṃ mṛgāṇāṃ vṛṣabhaṃ gavāṃ ca plakṣaṃ punaḥ sarvavanaspatīnām //

Translation

He appointed Suparṇa (Garuḍa) as lord of the birds, and Uccaiḥśravas as king of horses. He made the lion foremost among beasts, the bull foremost among cattle, and the plakṣa tree foremost among all trees.

Word by Word

• suparṇam: Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

• īśam: lord, ruler

• patatām: of the flying beings/birds

• atha: then

• aśva-rājānam: king of horses

• uccaiḥśravasam: Uccaiḥśravas (the divine horse)

• cakāra: made, appointed

• siṁham: lion

• mṛgāṇām: of beasts/wild animals

• vṛṣabham: bull

• gavām: of cows/cattle

• ca: and

• plakṣam: the plakṣa tree (Ficus species)

• punaḥ: again/further

• sarva-vanaspatīnām: of all trees/vegetation

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s cosmogonic account)

Entities Mentioned

• Suparṇa (Garuḍa)
• Uccaiḥśravas
• Siṁha (lion)
• Vṛṣabha (bull)
• Plakṣa (tree)

Tags

• Creation
• Cosmic Order
• Species Hierarchy
• Puranic Cosmology
• Iconography

FAQs

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

It reflects creation and cosmic ordering (sarga): the divine establishes hierarchy by appointing chief beings (adhipatis) for classes of creatures and plants, indicating structured governance of nature rather than dissolution.

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

By analogy, it models righteous governance: just as the Creator assigns fit leaders for each domain, a king or householder should maintain order by placing capable guardians/overseers in appropriate roles and upholding harmony among dependents.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; however, such “foremost” lists (e.g., plakṣa among trees) often inform ritual selection of auspicious materials/woods in later Puranic practices and temple-related traditions.