Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

भुजगेन्द्रसमारूढो जलेशो भगवान्स्वयम् नरयुक्तरथे देवो राक्षसेशो वियच्चरः //

Transliteration

bhujagendrasamārūḍho jaleśo bhagavānsvayam narayuktarathe devo rākṣaseśo viyaccaraḥ //

Translation

The Lord of the waters—God Himself—should be depicted mounted upon the king of serpents. The deity who rides a chariot drawn by men is the lord of the Rākṣasas, who moves through the sky.

Word by Word

• bhujagendra: king of serpents (Śeṣa/Ananta)

• samārūḍhaḥ: mounted/ascended

• jaleśaḥ: lord of waters (Varuṇa)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• svayam: Himself

• nara: men/humans

• yukta: yoked/harnessed

• rathe: on a chariot

• devaḥ: the deity

• rākṣasa-īśaḥ: lord of the Rākṣasas (often Kubera in Purāṇic iconography)

• viyat-caraḥ: sky-moving/one who travels in the heavens

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Varuṇa (Jaleśa)
• Bhujagendra (Śeṣa/Ananta)
• Rākṣaseśa (Lord of the Rākṣasas—commonly Kubera)

Tags

• Iconography
• Vahana
• Pratima Lakshana
• Temple Art
• Deity Attributes

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as an iconographic identifier, specifying how certain deities should be depicted (their vahana and mode of movement).

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

Indirectly, it guides righteous patronage: kings and householders commissioning temples or images should follow śāstric markers so worship is properly directed to the intended deity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-identification) cues—Varuṇa associated with the serpent-mount, and the rākṣasa-lord characterized by a man-drawn chariot—useful for temple sculpture programs and ritual visualization (dhyāna).