Shloka 38

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

शोभितोत्तमपार्श्वं तं देवमुत्पलशीर्षकम् ततः सम्मुखम् उद्वीक्ष्य ववन्दे स नराधिपः //

Transliteration

śobhitottamapārśvaṃ taṃ devamutpalaśīrṣakam tataḥ sammukham udvīkṣya vavande sa narādhipaḥ //

Translation

Beholding that deity—whose excellent sides were beautifully adorned and whose head was like a lotus—then looking straight at him, the king bowed down in reverence.

Word by Word

• śobhita: adorned/beautiful

• uttama: excellent/supreme

• pārśvam: sides/flanks

• tam: that

• devam: deity/god

• utpala: lotus/blue lotus

• śīrṣakam: having a head (as)/headed

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• sammukham: facing directly/in front

• udvīkṣya: having looked up/observed

• vavande: bowed down/revered

• saḥ: he

• narādhipaḥ: king/lord of men

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the king’s act of reverence within the iconographic episode

Entities Mentioned

• Deva (the deity)
• Narādhipa (the king)

Tags

• Iconography
• Darshan
• Pratima Lakshana
• Devotion
• Vastuvidya

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on the king’s direct darśana (vision) of a beautifully described deity and his act of reverent prostration.

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

It models rājadhrama through humility and devotion: a king should approach the divine with attentiveness (sammukham udvīkṣya) and offer respectful worship (vavande), indicating that political power is to be grounded in reverence and dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The lotus-headed (utpalaśīrṣaka) description reflects pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic markers) used in temple image standards, and the act of facing the deity and bowing suggests proper ritual etiquette during darśana in a shrine/temple setting.