Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 88

Devanagari script

उद्वहत्कनकोन्नद्धजीवरक्षामहोरगाम् मणिदीपगणज्योतिर् महालोकप्रकाशिते //

Transliteration

udvahatkanakonnaddhajīvarakṣāmahoragām maṇidīpagaṇajyotir mahālokaprakāśite //

Translation

Elle portait un grand serpent (nāga) comme gardien vivant, paré d’or ; et le lieu était éclairé par l’éclat de groupes de lampes de joyaux, brillant au point d’illuminer la vaste contrée alentour.

Word by Word

• udvahat: bearing/carrying

• kanaka-unnaddha: overlaid/adorned with gold

• jīva-rakṣā: living protection/guardian

• mahā-uragām (mahoragām): great serpent (nāga)

• maṇi-dīpa: jewel-lamp

• gaṇa: multitude/cluster

• jyotis: radiance/light

• mahā-loka: great world/vast realm

• prakāśite: made luminous/illumined

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the sacred/architectural scene within the Matsya Purana’s Vastu/Iconography context

Entities Mentioned

• Nāga (Mahoraga)
• Maṇi-dīpa (jewel-lamps)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Architecture
• Iconography
• Sacred Light
• Nāga Motifs

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it depicts a brilliantly illumined sacred/constructed space, emphasizing protection (nāga-guardian) and radiance (jewel-lamps).

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

Indirectly, it supports the dharmic ideal of maintaining and endowing sacred spaces—providing protection, ornamentation, and proper lighting as acts of merit and public welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It highlights temple/ritual illumination (maṇi-dīpa, “jewel-lamps”) and protective iconography (nāga as living guardian), both key motifs in Puranic Vastu and sacred design.