Shloka 101

Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P...

Devanagari script

स्थितस्तदैरावतनामकुञ्जरे महाबलश्चित्रविभूषणाम्बरः विशालवस्त्रांशुवितानभूषितः प्रकीर्णकेयूरभुजाग्रमण्डलः सहस्रदृग्बन्दिसहस्रसंस्तुतस् त्रिविष्टपे ऽशोभत पाकशासनः //

Transliteration

sthitastadairāvatanāmakuñjare mahābalaścitravibhūṣaṇāmbaraḥ viśālavastrāṃśuvitānabhūṣitaḥ prakīrṇakeyūrabhujāgramaṇḍalaḥ sahasradṛgbandisahasrasaṃstutas triviṣṭape 'śobhata pākaśāsanaḥ //

Translation

Then Pākaśāsana (Indra), mighty in power, stood upon the elephant named Airāvata, clad in garments rich with wondrous ornaments, adorned with broad shining draperies like canopies of light, his upper arms encircled with scattered armlets and radiant arm-bands. In Triviṣṭapa (heaven) he shone forth, praised by thousands of bards—the thousand-eyed Lord.

Word by Word

• स्थितः (sthitaḥ): stood/was stationed

• तदा (tadā): then

• ऐरावत-नाम-कुञ्जरे (airāvata-nāma-kuñjare): on the elephant named Airāvata

• महा-बलः (mahā-balaḥ): very mighty

• चित्र-विभूषण-अम्बरः (citra-vibhūṣaṇa-ambaraḥ): wearing garments adorned with splendid ornaments

• विशाल-वस्त्र-अंशु-वितान-भूषितः (viśāla-vastra-aṃśu-vitāna-bhūṣitaḥ): adorned with broad cloth and radiant canopy-like brilliance

• प्रकीर्ण-केयूर-भुजाग्र-मण्डलः (prakīrṇa-keyūra-bhujāgra-maṇḍalaḥ): with armlets and circular arm-ornaments spread over the upper arms

• सहस्र-दृक् (sahasra-dṛk): thousand-eyed (Indra)

• बन्दि-सहस्र-संस्तुतः (bandi-sahasra-saṃstutaḥ): praised by thousands of court-bards/panegyrists

• त्रिविष्टपे (triviṣṭape): in heaven (Triviṣṭapa)

• अशोभत (aśobhata): shone/appeared splendid

• पाक-शासनः (pāka-śāsanaḥ): Indra, the chastiser of Pāka (a known epithet of Indra).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the scene (descriptive narration rather than direct dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Pākaśāsana, Sahasradṛk)
• Airāvata
• Triviṣṭapa
• Bandi (heavenly bards)

Tags

• Svarga
• Indra
• Iconography
• Royal Splendour
• Purāṇic Cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a celestial portrayal of Indra’s majesty in heaven, emphasizing divine order and hierarchy rather than dissolution.

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

By presenting Indra as an ideal sovereign—praised by bards, radiant with authority—it reinforces Purāṇic ideals of kingship: public acclaim earned through power, protection, and the maintenance of order (rājadharma by analogy).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The imagery of “vitāna” (canopy) and ornamented regalia aligns with ritual and royal iconography—useful for pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic depiction) and ceremonial court settings, though no direct Vāstu rule is stated.