Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

पैशाचमस्त्रमजितं शोषदं शामनं तथा महाबलं भावनं च प्रस्थापनविकम्पने //

Transliteration

paiśācamastramajitaṃ śoṣadaṃ śāmanaṃ tathā mahābalaṃ bhāvanaṃ ca prasthāpanavikampane //

Translation

“(These are) the Paiśāca weapon-formula, the Unconquered (Ajita) formula, the drying-up (Śoṣada) and the pacifying (Śāmana) formulae; likewise the Great-strength (Mahābala) and the Empowering/Consecrating (Bhāvana) formulae—along with those for installing (the deity/image) and for causing tremor (vikampana).”

Word by Word

• पैशाचम् (paiśācam): relating to piśācas/ghoulish beings, used against such forces

• अस्त्रम् (astram): weapon, missile, weapon-mantra

• अजितम् (ajitam): unconquered, invincible (name of a mantra/astra)

• शोषदम् (śoṣadam): causing drying up, withering (a suppressive formula)

• शामनम् (śāmanam): pacifying, appeasing, quelling

• तथा (tathā): and also

• महाबलम् (mahābalam): of great power/strength (name of a mantra/astra)

• भावनम् (bhāvanam): empowering, infusing, consecrating, bringing into effective manifestation

• च (ca): and

• प्रस्थापन (prasthāpana): installation/setting up (esp. an image, yantra, or deity-seat)

• विकम्पने (vikampane): causing shaking/trembling, inducing tremor (a specific ritual/weapon-effect).

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (teaching mode) to Vaivasvata Manu (instructional dialogue typical of Matsya Purana technical chapters)

Entities Mentioned

• Paiśāca (Piśāca-class beings implied)
• Ajita (as a named mantra/astra category)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Puranic ritual mantras
• Temple installation (Pratistha)
• Protective astras
• Iconography support rites

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a technical enumeration of mantra-astras and ritual effects (pacifying, drying-up, empowering, installation), indicating the Purana’s practical ritual toolkit rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

It supports the protective and stabilizing duties of rulers/householders by prescribing pacifying and defensive formulae—tools for maintaining order, warding off harmful forces, and ensuring the proper establishment of sacred installations in the realm or household shrine.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It directly references prasthāpana (installation), implying pratistha-related rites in temple/icon contexts, and lists specific functional mantras (śāmana, bhāvanā, etc.) used to protect, empower, and ritually “activate” the installed deity/image.