Matsya Purana — The Pushkara Manifestation, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

मृगव्याधः कपर्दी च दहनो ऽथेश्वरश्च वै अहिर्बुध्न्यश्च भगवान् कपाली चापि पिङ्गलः //

Transliteration

mṛgavyādhaḥ kapardī ca dahano 'theśvaraśca vai ahirbudhnyaśca bhagavān kapālī cāpi piṅgalaḥ //

Translation

അവൻ മൃഗവ്യാധൻ (വന്യമൃഗങ്ങളെ വശപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന വേട്ടക്കാരൻ), കപർദി (ജടാധാരി), ദഹനൻ (അഗ്നിസ്വരൂപൻ), കൂടാതെ ഈശ്വരൻ; ഭഗവാൻ അഹിർബുധ്ന്യനും; അതുപോലെ കപാലി (കപാലധാരി)യും പിംഗളൻ (താമ്രവർണ്ണൻ) എന്നും സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• mṛgavyādhaḥ: the hunter (slayer/subduer of beasts)

• kapardī: one with matted hair/topknot (jaṭā-dhārī)

• dahanaḥ: the burner, fire

• atha: and then/also

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord, sovereign

• ca vai: and indeed

• ahirbudhnyaḥ: Ahirbudhnya (a Vedic epithet/name of Rudra, ‘serpent of the deep/foundation’)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• kapālī: skull-bearing ascetic

• ca api: and also

• piṅgalaḥ: tawny/reddish-brown-hued, the tawny one

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) presenting a Rudra/Śiva name-list within the Matsya Purāṇa discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra
• Śiva
• Ahirbudhnya

Tags

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Sahasranama
• Iconography
• Mantra

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it presents Rudra’s epithets emphasizing cosmic power—especially “Dahana” (the burning fire), a force that can signify transformative dissolution in a broader theological sense.

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

As a litany of Śiva’s names, it supports dharma through devotion and disciplined recitation; kings and householders are encouraged in Purāṇic ethics to uphold order by worshipping the Lord who embodies sovereignty (Īśvara) and restraint (ascetic Kapālī).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a name-recitation (nāma-japa/stotra) suitable for Śiva worship; iconographically, names like Kapardī (matted hair) and Kapālī (skull-bearer) guide recognizable Śiva attributes used in temple icons.