Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव सोमास्त्रं शिशिरं तथा कम्पनं शातनं चैव त्वाष्ट्रं चैव सुभैरवम् //

Transliteration

astraṃ brahmaśiraścaiva somāstraṃ śiśiraṃ tathā kampanaṃ śātanaṃ caiva tvāṣṭraṃ caiva subhairavam //

Translation

“(There are) the Astra called Brahmaśiras, and also the Soma-astra; likewise the Śiśira (chilling) weapon; the Kampana (trembling) and Śātana (destroying) weapons; and also the Tvāṣṭra weapon, as well as the Subhairava (very-terrifying) weapon.”

Word by Word

• अस्त्रम् (astram): divine missile/weapon

• ब्रह्मशिरः (brahmaśiraḥ): the Brahmaśiras weapon (Brahmā’s ‘head’/supreme missile)

• च एव (ca eva): and also/indeed

• सोमास्त्रम् (somāstram): Soma’s weapon (lunar/divine missile)

• शिशिरम् (śiśiram): the ‘chilling/cold’ weapon

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• कम्पनम् (kampanam): the ‘trembling/shaking’ weapon

• शातनम् (śātanam): the ‘destroying/annihilating’ weapon

• त्वाष्ट्रम् (tvāṣṭram): Tvaṣṭṛ’s weapon (artificer-god’s missile)

• सुभैरवम् (subhairavam): the ‘very terrifying’ weapon

Speaker

• Sūta (traditional Purāṇic narrator) recounting a received list within the Matsya Purana’s discourse; ultimately framed within the Matsya–Manu teaching tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmaśiras Astra
• Soma-astra
• Śiśira Astra
• Kampana Astra
• Śātana Astra
• Tvāṣṭra Astra
• Subhairava Astra
• Soma
• Tvaṣṭṛ

Tags

• Astravidya
• DivineWeapons
• MantraShastra
• PuranicLore
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it catalogues named astras (divine missiles), reflecting Purāṇic martial–mantric lore rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

By preserving the traditional names of powerful astras, the text supports the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined power—knowledge of weapons is to be governed by dharma, restraint, and rightful protection rather than aggression.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The primary significance is ritual-mantric: astras are typically invoked/controlled through mantras and disciplined observances; the verse functions as a canonical enumeration rather than a Vāstu or temple-building rule.