Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

मत्तेभवाहनप्रायास् तीक्ष्णतोमरहेतयः मुक्ताजालपरिष्कारो हंसो रजतनिर्मितः //

Transliteration

mattebhavāhanaprāyās tīkṣṇatomarahetayaḥ muktājālapariṣkāro haṃso rajatanirmitaḥ //

Translation

They are depicted as mounted upon rutting elephants, bearing sharp spears; the swan—adorned with a net-like ornamentation of pearls—is fashioned in silver.

Word by Word

• matta-ibha: rutting elephant

• vāhana: mount/vehicle

• prāyāḥ: for the most part/usually

• tīkṣṇa: sharp

• tomara: spear/javelin

• hetayaḥ: weapons

• muktā: pearl

• jāla: net/lattice

• pariṣkāraḥ: ornamentation/finishing decoration

• haṃsaḥ: swan

• rajata: silver

• nirmitaḥ: made/fashioned

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s iconographic rules

Entities Mentioned

• Haṃsa (swan motif)
• Matta-ibha (elephant mount)
• Tomara (spear)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Pratima Lakshana
• Iconography
• Temple ornamentation
• Sacred vehicles

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to the iconography/craft section, prescribing how figures and sacred motifs (mounts, weapons, ornaments) should be represented.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders who commission temples and images are expected to follow authoritative śāstric specifications for vahanas, weapons, and embellishments to ensure ritual correctness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa details—elephant mounts, spear-like weapons, and a silver haṃsa with pearl-lattice ornamentation—useful for temple sculpture, metalwork, and consecrated icon decoration.