Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

द्वीपिचर्मोत्तरासङ्गं निशाचरबलं बभौ गार्ध्रपत्त्रध्वजप्रायम् अस्थिभूषणभूषितम् //

Transliteration

dvīpicarmottarāsaṅgaṃ niśācarabalaṃ babhau gārdhrapattradhvajaprāyam asthibhūṣaṇabhūṣitam //

Translation

There appeared a host of night-roaming beings, wearing an upper garment of leopard-skin, bearing banners mostly adorned with vulture-feathers, and ornamented with decorations of bone.

Word by Word

• द्वीपि-चर्म: leopard-skin

• उत्तर-आसङ्गम्: upper garment/over-cloak worn on the shoulders

• निशाचर-बलम्: a troop/host of night-wanderers (demons/spirits)

• बभौ: appeared/was seen/shone forth

• गार्ध्र: of a vulture

• पत्त्र: feather

• ध्वज-प्रायम्: having banners mostly/of the nature of banners

• अस्थि-भूषण: bone-ornaments

• भूषितम्: adorned/decorated

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the Purāṇic description in an iconography-focused passage

Entities Mentioned

• Niśācara (night-roamers)
• Leopard-skin
• Vulture-feather banners
• Bone ornaments

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Temple Art
• Fierce Attendants
• Ritual Imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a visual/iconographic description of fierce night-roaming attendants, emphasizing their attire, banners, and ornaments.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic practice by guiding correct religious representation: patrons (kings/householders) funding temples and images are expected to commission imagery consistent with Purāṇic descriptions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides iconographic markers (leopard-skin cloak, vulture-feather banners, bone ornaments) useful for identifying and depicting fierce attendant figures in temple sculpture and ritual visualization.