Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Jaggery-Cow

Devanagari script

विद्रुमभ्रूयुगोपेतौ नवनीतस्तनावुभौ क्षौमपुच्छौ कांस्यदोहाव् इन्द्रनीलकतारकौ //

Transliteration

vidrumabhrūyugopetau navanītastanāvubhau kṣaumapucchau kāṃsyadohāv indranīlakatārakau //

Translation

They are endowed with eyebrows like coral; both have udders like fresh butter (navanīta); their tail is like fine linen (kṣauma); their flanks like bronze; and their eyes are speckled like sapphire.

Word by Word

• vidruma: coral

• bhrū-yuga: pair of eyebrows

• upetau: endowed with/possessing

• navanīta: fresh butter

• stanau: breasts

• ubhau: both

• kṣauma: fine linen/flaxen cloth

• puccha: tail

• kāṃsya: bronze/bell-metal

• dohā(v): sides/flanks (reading as a descriptive bodily feature)

• indranīla: sapphire/blue gem

• tārakā: star-like speck/spot

• indranīlaka-tārakau: having sapphire-like speckling (esp. of the eyes)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within iconographic description)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Temple Art
• Matsya Avatara

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it gives iconographic markers (bodily features) used to define an auspicious, correctly formed divine figure.

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

By prescribing correct sacred iconography, it supports a king’s and householder’s duty to uphold dharma through proper temple patronage, image-making, and worship performed according to scripture.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It functions as a pratima-lakṣaṇa rule: sculptors and temple planners use such feature-descriptions to ensure the deity’s form is ritually valid and aesthetically auspicious for installation (pratiṣṭhā) and worship.