Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

ते दृष्ट्वा रुक्मशैलाभम् अपूर्वां तनुमाश्रितम् विस्मिता दानवाः सर्वे हिरण्यकशिपुश्च सः //

Transliteration

te dṛṣṭvā rukmaśailābham apūrvāṃ tanumāśritam vismitā dānavāḥ sarve hiraṇyakaśipuśca saḥ //

Translation

Seeing that unprecedented form—resembling a mountain of gold—all the Dānavas were struck with amazement, and Hiraṇyakaśipu as well.

Word by Word

• ते (te): they

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• रुक्म-शैल-आभम् (rukma-śaila-ābham): having the splendor/appearance of a golden mountain

• अपूर्वाम् (apūrvām): unprecedented, never-before-seen

• तनुम् (tanum): body, form

• आश्रितम् (āśritam): assumed, taken on

• विस्मिताः (vismitāḥ): astonished

• दानवाः (dānavāḥ): Dānavas (a class of demons)

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• हिरण्यकशिपुः (hiraṇyakaśipuḥ): Hiraṇyakaśipu

• च (ca): and

• सः (saḥ): he (that one/also he).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Matsya Purana’s running discourse; not a direct speech line)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

Tags

• Daityas
• Divine epiphany
• Wonder (adbhuta)
• Puranic narrative
• Vishnu manifestations

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on a miraculous, unprecedented manifestation whose sheer radiance astonishes the Dānavas and Hiraṇyakaśipu.

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

Indirectly, it models a Purāṇic ethic: worldly power (even that of Hiraṇyakaśipu) is humbled before a higher, extraordinary reality—an admonition for rulers and householders to cultivate reverence and restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the imagery “like a golden mountain” is primarily poetic iconographic description (a visual marker of supernatural majesty).