Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 70

Devanagari script

केशाः स्थिता ललाटेन जिह्वा च परिमार्जनी श्यामप्रभाश्चतुर्दंष्ट्राः सुवंशाश्चोर्ध्वरेतसः //

Transliteration

keśāḥ sthitā lalāṭena jihvā ca parimārjanī śyāmaprabhāścaturdaṃṣṭrāḥ suvaṃśāścordhvaretasaḥ //

Translation

അവരുടെ കേശം ലലാടത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; ജിഹ്വ പരിമാർജനി (ശുദ്ധീകരക) പോലെയാണ്; അവർ ശ്യാമപ്രഭയിൽ ദീപ്തരായി, നാലു ദംഷ്ട്രകളുള്ളവരായി, സുവംശജരായി, ഊർധ്വരേതസ് (ബ്രഹ്മചര്യനിഷ്ഠ) ആയി ചിത്രിതരാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• keśāḥ: hair

• sthitāḥ: placed/arranged

• lalāṭena (lalāṭe): on the forehead

• jihvā: tongue

• ca: and

• parimārjanī: cleanser/polisher (purifying, licking-clean)

• śyāma-prabhāḥ: dark-hued in radiance/with dusky splendor

• catur-daṃṣṭrāḥ: four-fanged

• su-vaṃśāḥ: of good lineage/noble stock

• ca: and

• ūrdhva-retasaḥ: celibate/continent, with semen (retas) drawn upward (a mark of yogic restraint).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on iconographic/characteristic marks

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Temple Art
• Yogic Marks
• Vastu Shastra

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it belongs to iconographic description (lakṣaṇa), outlining how certain beings/forms should be characterized in sacred imagery.

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

Indirectly, it promotes ideals valued in dharma—nobility of conduct (suvaṃśa) and self-restraint (ūrdhvaretas). Such virtues are praised for rulers and householders as foundations for disciplined governance and ethical life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides pratima-lakṣaṇa cues used by sculptors and temple planners: placement of hair/forehead detail, depiction of a cleansing tongue, dark radiance, and four fangs—features that guide consistent sacred representation within Vastu-aligned temple art programs.