Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — The Pushkara Manifestation

Devanagari script

हूयन्तं वाडवं चैव चारित्रं मन्दपन्नगम् बृहन्तं वै बृहद्रूपं तथा वै पूतनानुगम् //

Transliteration

hūyantaṃ vāḍavaṃ caiva cāritraṃ mandapannagam bṛhantaṃ vai bṛhadrūpaṃ tathā vai pūtanānugam //

Translation

He is invoked as Hūyanta and also as Vāḍava; as Cāritra and as Mandapannaga; as Bṛhant indeed, as Bṛhadrūpa, and likewise as Pūtanānuga.

Word by Word

• हूयन्तम् (hūyantam): one who is invoked/called in sacrifice

• वाडवम् (vāḍavam): the submarine/undersea fire, the Mare-headed fire (vāḍavāgni)

• च एव (ca eva): and also

• चारित्रम् (cāritram): conduct, sacred observance, virtuous character (as a divine epithet)

• मन्दपन्नगम् (mandapannagam): gentle/slow serpent (a nāga-epithet)

• बृहन्तम् (bṛhantam): the Vast/Great One

• वै (vai): indeed

• बृहद्रूपम् (bṛhadrūpam): of immense form

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• पूतनानुगम् (pūtanānugam): follower/attendant of Pūtanā (a name used as an epithet in a list of divine attendants/gaṇa-names).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu in a catalog of divine epithets used for ritual remembrance

Entities Mentioned

• Hūyanta
• Vāḍava (Vāḍavāgni)
• Cāritra
• Mandapannaga
• Bṛhant
• Bṛhadrūpa
• Pūtanānuga

Tags

• Iconography
• Mantra
• Ritual Invocation
• Divine Epithets
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not narrate Pralaya directly; it functions as a litany of epithets—names used to invoke the deity whose cosmic power includes sustaining and dissolving the worlds.

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

It supports dharmic practice by prescribing remembrance/invocation through sacred names—relevant to household worship and to a king’s duty to maintain public rites and religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual: these are invocation-names (nāma-bheda) used in worship/recitation, helping standardize how the deity is addressed within Purāṇic liturgy.