Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Names Across Yugas and the Gods’ Refuge During the Tārakāmaya War

Devanagari script

दीप्तपीताम्बरधरं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम् धूमान्धकारवपुषं युगान्ताग्निमिवोत्थितम् //

Transliteration

dīptapītāmbaradharaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam dhūmāndhakāravapuṣaṃ yugāntāgnimivotthitam //

Translation

Wearing blazing yellow garments and adorned with ornaments of heated gold, his body appeared like smoke and darkness—rising up like the fire that flares at the end of an age (yugānta).

Word by Word

• दीप्त (dīpta): blazing, radiant

• पीताम्बर-धरम् (pītāmbara-dharam): wearing yellow garments

• तप्त (tapta): heated, molten, glowing with heat

• काञ्चन-भूषणम् (kāñcana-bhūṣaṇam): adorned with golden ornaments

• धूम (dhūma): smoke

• अन्धकार (andhakāra): darkness

• वपुषम् (vapuṣam): body, form

• युगान्त (yugānta): end of the age, cosmic dissolution time

• अग्निम् (agnim): fire

• इव (iva): like, as if

• उत्थितम् (utthitam): arisen, risen up, surged forth

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Matsya Purana; contextually describing a divine/terrible manifestation associated with yugānta imagery)

Entities Mentioned

• Yugānta (end-of-age dissolution fire)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Theophany
• Iconography
• Yuganta-fire
• Vishnu-Matsya context

FAQs

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

It evokes pralaya through “yugānta-agni”—the end-of-age fire—portraying a cosmic, overwhelming radiance where smoke and darkness accompany the surge of dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it functions as a reminder of impermanence: worldly power and possessions are transient before cosmic time, encouraging dharmic rule and disciplined household life oriented to duty rather than pride.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not prescribing Vāstu rules, it supplies iconographic markers used in ritual visualization—pītāmbara (yellow garment) and golden ornaments—useful for dhyāna (meditative worship) and deity-form description in temple contexts.