Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

अङ्गुलीपृष्ठविन्यस्तदेवशीर्षधरं भुजम् एकं वै देवदेवस्य द्वितीयं तु प्रसारितम् //

Transliteration

aṅgulīpṛṣṭhavinyastadevaśīrṣadharaṃ bhujam ekaṃ vai devadevasya dvitīyaṃ tu prasāritam //

Translation

One arm of the Lord of gods should be shown bearing the divine head, with it placed upon the back of the fingers; the second arm should be depicted as extended outward.

Word by Word

• aṅgulī: finger

• pṛṣṭha: back (upper side)

• vinyasta: placed/arranged

• deva: divine, god

• śīrṣa: head

• dharam: bearing/holding

• bhujam: arm

• ekam: one

• vai: indeed

• devadevasya: of the God of gods (supreme deity)

• dvitīyam: the second

• tu: and/but

• prasāritam: extended, outstretched

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Devadeva (Supreme Deity)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Hasta Mudra
• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Art

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it gives a technical sculptural prescription for depicting a deity’s arm positions in an icon.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic duty by prescribing correct standards for commissioning and installing temple images—an act often sponsored by kings and householders as meritorious patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It is a pratima-lakṣaṇa rule: the deity’s icon should show one arm supporting a divine head with placement on the backs of the fingers, while the other arm is outstretched—guidance used by sculptors and temple ritualists to ensure canonical form.