Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकीर्तिकान्तिलक्ष्मीभिर् नदीभिर् उपशोभितम् कालयोगिमहापर्वप्रलयोत्पत्तिवेगिनम् //

Transliteration

śrīkīrtikāntilakṣmībhir nadībhir upaśobhitam kālayogimahāparvapralayotpattiveginam //

Translation

Adorned by rivers that are like prosperity, fame, radiance, and fortune, it rushes forth with the impetuous force of Time—its vast conjunctions and great critical junctures—bringing about the arising of dissolution (pralaya).

Word by Word

• śrī: prosperity, auspicious splendor

• kīrti: fame, renown

• kānti: brilliance, radiance

• lakṣmībhiḥ: with fortunes/with Lakṣmī-like prosperity (instrumental plural)

• nadībhiḥ: by rivers/with rivers (instrumental plural)

• upaśobhitam: beautified, adorned

• kāla: Time (cosmic time principle)

• yogi: conjunction, union, binding force (here: time’s conjunctions/alignments)

• mahā-parva: great node/juncture, major turning-point

• pralaya: dissolution, cosmic deluge/withdrawal

• utpatti: arising, origination, onset

• veginam: swift, impetuous, forceful

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s pralaya doctrine; framed within the Matsya–Manu dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Kāla (Time)
• Pralaya
• Nadī (Rivers)
• Śrī
• Lakṣmī
• Kīrti
• Kānti

Tags

• Pralaya
• Kāla
• Cosmic Cycles
• Puranic Cosmology
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It presents pralaya as an onset driven by Kāla (cosmic Time), especially at major time-junctures (mahāparva), whose force initiates dissolution rather than random catastrophe.

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

By emphasizing Kāla’s irresistible momentum, it supports the Purāṇic ethic of timely dharma—rulers and householders should act with foresight, store merit, and govern/maintain order knowing that prosperity and stability are time-bound.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule is stated; indirectly, the verse uses rivers and auspicious qualities (śrī–kīrti–kānti–lakṣmī) as markers of sacred prosperity—an idea later echoed in site-selection ideals where water and auspiciousness indicate a thriving, ritually fit landscape.