Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

एष नारायणो भूत्वा हरिरासीत्सनातनः ब्रह्मा वायुश्च सोमश्च धर्मः शक्रो बृहस्पतिः //

Transliteration

eṣa nārāyaṇo bhūtvā harirāsītsanātanaḥ brahmā vāyuśca somaśca dharmaḥ śakro bṛhaspatiḥ //

Translation

Becoming this (all-pervading principle), he was Nārāyaṇa—Hari, the Eternal. From him are (known) Brahmā, Vāyu, Soma, Dharma, Śakra (Indra), and Bṛhaspati.

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one), he

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu as the cosmic ground)

• bhūtvā: having become, assuming (the form/state)

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)

• āsīt: was, existed

• sanātanaḥ: eternal, primeval

• brahmā: Brahmā (creator-deity)

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu (wind-deity)

• somaḥ: Soma (moon/deity of soma)

• dharmaḥ: Dharma (cosmic law/virtue personified)

• śakraḥ: Śakra/Indra (lord of devas)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati (guru of the gods)

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrator) relaying Purāṇic doctrine (speaker not explicit in the given single-verse excerpt)

Entities Mentioned

• Narayana
• Hari
• Brahma
• Vayu
• Soma
• Dharma
• Shakra (Indra)
• Brihaspati

Tags

• Narayana
• Cosmology
• Deva-origins
• Dharma
• Puranic theology

FAQs

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

It presents a creation-oriented doctrine: the eternal Hari as Nārāyaṇa is portrayed as the foundational reality from whom key cosmic powers (deities like Brahmā, Vāyu, Soma, Dharma, Indra, Bṛhaspati) are identified or manifested—implying that even gods depend on the supreme source.

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

By naming Dharma among the divine manifestations, the verse frames dharma (law, righteousness) as cosmic and sacred; kingship and household duties in the Matsya Purana are thereby grounded in upholding Dharma as part of aligning society with the divine order emanating from Nārāyaṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-rule detail is stated; ritually, the verse supports a common Purāṇic worship principle used in mantras and iconography: honoring Nārāyaṇa/Hari as the supreme source while recognizing other deities as dependent powers within that hierarchy.