Matsya Purana — Measures of Time: Caturyuga Computation, Shloka 71

Devanagari script

आजानुबाहवश्चैव तालहस्तौ वृषाकृती परिणाहप्रमाणाभ्यां सिंहस्कन्धाश्च मेधिनः //

Transliteration

ājānubāhavaścaiva tālahastau vṛṣākṛtī pariṇāhapramāṇābhyāṃ siṃhaskandhāśca medhinaḥ //

Translation

അവരുടെ ഭുജങ്ങൾ മുട്ടുവരെ എത്തുന്നതായിരിക്കണം, കരതലങ്ങൾ താല-പ്രമാണത്തിൽ അളക്കപ്പെട്ടവയായിരിക്കണം, വൃഷഭസദൃശമായ സുദൃഢ ഘടനയോടെ; വീതി-ചുറ്റളവിൽ സമപ്രമാണം, സിംഹസദൃശ സ്കന്ധങ്ങൾ, സ്ഥിരവും ഘനവുമായ ദേഹം ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• ājānubāhavaḥ: having arms reaching to the knees

• ca eva: and indeed

• tāla-hastau: having hands/palms measured by the tāla unit (iconographic measure)

• vṛṣa-ākṛtī: bull-like in form (strong, compact, vigorous)

• pariṇāha: girth/robust circumference

• pramāṇābhyām: by the (proper) measurements (of proportion)

• siṃha-skandhāḥ: having lion-like shoulders

• ca: and

• medhinaḥ: solid-bodied, well-built, substantial

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

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

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious bodily proportions used in iconography and ideal-form description within the Matsya Purana’s technical teachings.

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

Indirectly, it supports kingship and household dharma by defining the ideal, auspicious physique associated with sovereignty and excellence—standards used to depict rulers/deities and to recognize noble, well-formed traits.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes pratima-lakṣaṇa rules: sculptors and temple planners use tāla-based measurements and specified proportions (arms to knees, lion-shoulders, robust girth) to craft ritually valid and aesthetically auspicious images.