Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Solar Dynasty Prelude: Vivasvān–Saṃjñā–Chāyā

Devanagari script

दैत्यदानवसंहर्तुः सहस्रकिरणात्मकम् रूपं चाप्रतिमं चक्रे त्वष्टा पद्भ्यामृते महत् //

Transliteration

daityadānavasaṃhartuḥ sahasrakiraṇātmakam rūpaṃ cāpratimaṃ cakre tvaṣṭā padbhyāmṛte mahat //

Translation

Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned a vast and incomparable form of the slayer of the Daityas and Dānavas—radiant with a thousand rays—making it great in every limb, except for the feet.

Word by Word

• दैत्य (daitya): Daitya demon

• दानव (dānava): Dānava demon

• संहर्तुः (saṃhartuḥ): of the destroyer/slayer

• सहस्र (sahasra): thousand

• किरण (kiraṇa): ray, beam of light

• आत्मकम् (ātmakam): consisting of, characterized by

• रूपम् (rūpam): form

• च (ca): and

• अप्रतिमम् (apratimam): incomparable, matchless

• चक्रे (cakre): made, fashioned

• त्वष्टा (tvaṣṭā): Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine artisan)

• पद्भ्याम् (padbhyām): with/for the feet, in respect of the feet

• ऋते (ṛte): except, without

• महत् (mahat): great, vast, mighty

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the tradition of divine craftsmanship within the Matsya Purana’s iconographic narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Tvaṣṭṛ
• Daityas
• Dānavas
• The demon-slayer deity (implicitly Vishnu/Indra-type epithet)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Divine Radiance
• Devashilpa
• Mythic Craftsmanship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on divine iconography—how a radiant, incomparable form of a demon-slaying deity is fashioned by Tvaṣṭṛ.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders are encouraged to commission properly described divine images for temples and rites, aligning worship with scriptural standards.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It signals iconographic specification: the deity’s form is defined as “thousand-rayed” and “incomparable,” with a noted exception regarding the feet—useful for pratima design conventions tied to temple installation and worship.