Matsya Purana — Bhīma-Dvādaśī, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तस्यान्ते स महादेवो वासुदेवो जनार्दनः भारावतरणार्थाय त्रिधा विष्णुर्भविष्यति //

Transliteration

tasyānte sa mahādevo vāsudevo janārdanaḥ bhārāvataraṇārthāya tridhā viṣṇurbhaviṣyati //

Translation

त्या काळाच्या शेवटी तोच महादेव—वासुदेव, जनार्दन—पृथ्वीचा भार हलका करण्यासाठी विष्णू त्रिधा प्रकट होईल।

Word by Word

• tasya: of that

• ante: at the end

• saḥ: he

• mahādevaḥ: the Great Lord

• vāsudevaḥ: Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa as the divine Lord)

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (the remover of affliction, an epithet of Viṣṇu)

• bhāra-avataraṇa-arthāya: for the purpose of causing the burden to descend/be removed (i.e., relieving the Earth’s load)

• tridhā: in three ways/threefold

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu

• bhaviṣyati: will be/will come to be (will manifest).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Mahādeva (as ‘Great Lord’ epithet of Viṣṇu here)
• Vāsudeva
• Janārdana
• Viṣṇu
• Bhūdevī (Earth, implied by ‘burden of the Earth’)

Tags

• Avatara
• Bhārāvataraṇa
• Viṣṇu
• Prophecy
• Dharma-restoration

FAQs

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

Rather than describing Pralaya directly, the verse points to a yuga-ending crisis where Earth becomes overburdened; Viṣṇu’s descent is presented as a corrective intervention that restores cosmic balance.

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

It frames governance and social order as part of maintaining Earth’s ‘burden’ within limits—when adharma and oppression accumulate, divine intervention follows; by implication, kings and householders should uphold dharma to prevent societal collapse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the practical takeaway is thematic—temple worship and righteous rites are aligned with dharma-maintenance, which the verse links to the divine mission of restoring balance.