Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — The Terror of Tripura and the Gods’ Hymn to Śiva

Devanagari script

अग्निवर्णमजं देवम् अग्निकुण्डनिभेक्षणम् अग्न्यादित्यसहस्राभम् अग्निवर्णविभूषितम् //

Transliteration

agnivarṇamajaṃ devam agnikuṇḍanibhekṣaṇam agnyādityasahasrābham agnivarṇavibhūṣitam //

Translation

He should be depicted as the unborn divine Lord, fiery in hue—his gaze like a blazing fire-pit—radiant as a thousand fires and suns, and adorned with the splendor of flame-like color.

Word by Word

• agni-varṇam: fire-colored, of fiery complexion

• ajam: unborn, unoriginated

• devam: the god, the divine Lord

• agni-kuṇḍa-nibha-īkṣaṇam: whose look/eyes are like a fire-altar/fire-pit

• agni-āditya-sahasra-ābham: having the brilliance of a thousand fires and suns

• agni-varṇa-vibhūṣitam: ornamented/adorned with fiery radiance or flame-hued adornments

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s iconographic instructions; ultimately framed as teachings associated with Lord Matsya’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni (fire principle)
• Āditya (sun principle)
• Deva (the depicted deity)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Radiance
• Ritual Art
• Temple Images

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes divine, uncreated (aja) radiance—an iconographic way of expressing transcendence beyond birth and dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through correct worship: kings and householders are expected to sponsor and maintain proper consecrated images and rituals, and accurate iconography is treated as part of righteous religious patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a pratima-lakṣaṇa cue for image-making: the deity’s complexion, gaze, and overall brilliance should be rendered as fire-like and sun-like, guiding sculptors/painters and informing consecration aesthetics in temple practice.