Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

हिरण्यकशिपोः पुत्रः प्रह्लादो नाम वीर्यवान् दिव्येन चक्षुषा सिंहम् अपश्यद्देवमागतम् //

Transliteration

hiraṇyakaśipoḥ putraḥ prahlādo nāma vīryavān divyena cakṣuṣā siṃham apaśyaddevamāgatam //

Translation

Prahlāda, the valiant son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, with divine sight beheld the Lion-like Deity arriving.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यकशिपोः (hiraṇyakaśipoḥ): of Hiraṇyakaśipu

• पुत्रः (putraḥ): son

• प्रह्लादः (prahlādaḥ): Prahlāda

• नाम (nāma): by name/indeed

• वीर्यवान् (vīryavān): valorous, mighty

• दिव्येन (divyena): divine, celestial

• चक्षुषा (cakṣuṣā): with the eye/sight

• सिंहम् (siṃham): lion (lion-formed)

• अपश्यत् (apaśyat): saw, beheld

• देवम् (devam): the god, the Divine Being

• आगतम् (āgatam): arrived, having come.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the episode within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Prahlāda
• Narasimha (lion-formed Deity)

Tags

• Bhakti
• Narasimha
• Prahlada
• Divine Vision
• Avatara

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it highlights divine intervention through an avatāra and the devotee’s divya-cakṣus (spiritual perception).

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

Indirectly, it upholds dharma by showing that true strength includes devotion and right vision; rulers and householders are reminded to honor the Divine and protect dharmic order rather than oppose it like Hiraṇyakaśipu.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or temple-building rule is stated; the key ritual takeaway is the motif of “divine sight,” implying inner purity and devotion as prerequisites for perceiving the deity.