Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — The Advent of Narasiṃha and Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Weapon-Assault

Devanagari script

सभायां भज्यमानायां हिरण्यकशिपुः स्वयम् चिक्षेपास्त्राणि सिंहस्य रोषाद्व्याकुललोचनः //

Transliteration

sabhāyāṃ bhajyamānāyāṃ hiraṇyakaśipuḥ svayam cikṣepāstrāṇi siṃhasya roṣādvyākulalocanaḥ //

Translation

When the assembly-hall was being shattered, Hiraṇyakaśipu himself—his eyes trembling in fury at the Lion—hurled his weapons.

Word by Word

• सभायाम्: in the assembly (hall)

• भज्यमानायाम्: while being broken/shattered

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu

• स्वयम्: himself

• चिक्षेप: hurled/cast

• अस्त्राणि: weapons/missiles

• सिंहस्य: of the Lion (Narasimha)

• रोषात्: from anger/fury

• व्याकुल-लोचनः: with agitated/trembling eyes

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene)

Entities Mentioned

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Siṃha (Narasimha)

Tags

• Narasimha
• Daitya
• Battle
• Divine Incarnation
• Purāṇic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it depicts a violent upheaval in a royal assembly during a divine confrontation, emphasizing the collapse of arrogant power rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By showing a ruler (Hiraṇyakaśipu) acting from rage and attacking the divine, it implicitly critiques kingship driven by ego and anger—warning that adharmic rule destabilizes the very “sabhā” (public order) a king must protect.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, the “sabhā” (assembly-hall) is portrayed as being physically shattered, a narrative image of civic/royal space collapsing under adharma; it is not a prescriptive Vāstu rule but a symbolic use of built space in Purāṇic storytelling.