Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 53

Devanagari script

हस्तौ च पञ्चसप्तत्या मार्गणैर्दशभिर्धनुः मार्गणैर् बर्हिपत्त्राङ्गैस् तैलधौतैरजिह्मगैः //

Transliteration

hastau ca pañcasaptatyā mārgaṇairdaśabhirdhanuḥ mārgaṇair barhipattrāṅgais tailadhautairajihmagaiḥ //

Translation

Pada kedua-dua tangan, hendaklah digambarkan tujuh puluh lima anak panah; serta sebuah busur bersama sepuluh anak panah—berbulu bulu merak, disapu minyak dengan baik dan lurus tanpa bengkok.

Word by Word

• हस्तौ (hastau): in the two hands

• च (ca): and

• पञ्चसप्तत्या (pañcasaptatyā): with seventy-five

• मार्गणैः (mārgaṇaiḥ): with arrows

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• धनुः (dhanuḥ): a bow

• मार्गणैः (mārgaṇaiḥ): with arrows

• बर्हिपत्त्राङ्गैः (barhipattrāṅgaiḥ): having limbs/shafts adorned with peacock-feathers

• तैलधौतैः (tailadhautaiḥ): well-oiled / polished with oil

• अजिह्मगैः (ajihmagaiḥ): not crooked, straight

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on iconographic specifications)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Weapons
• Temple Art
• Vastu Shastra

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to iconographic instruction, specifying how a bow-bearing figure should be equipped and portrayed.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic kingship and household piety by prescribing correct standards for sacred images used in temples and worship—maintaining proper ritual order and cultural continuity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-making) details: the count and quality of weapons—arrows with peacock-feathered shafts, oiled and straight—guiding sculptors and ritual patrons in producing ritually valid temple icons.