Matsya Purana — Skanda’s Consecration, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

कृत्तिकामेलनादेव शाखाभिः सविशेषतः शाखाभिधाः समाख्याताः षट्सु वक्त्रेषु विस्तृताः //

Transliteration

kṛttikāmelanādeva śākhābhiḥ saviśeṣataḥ śākhābhidhāḥ samākhyātāḥ ṣaṭsu vaktreṣu vistṛtāḥ //

Translation

కృత్తికల సమాగమమునుండియే ఈ విశిష్ట ‘శాఖలు’ ఏర్పడ్డాయి; ఆరు ముఖముల సంబంధముగా ఇవి విస్తారంగా చెప్పబడి, పేర్లతో ప్రత్యేకంగా నిర్దేశించబడ్డాయి।

Word by Word

• kṛttikā-melanāt: from the assembly/gathering of the Kṛttikās (Pleiades)

• eva: indeed/itself

• śākhābhiḥ: by/with the branches (śākhās)

• sa-viśeṣataḥ: distinctly, with particularity

• śākhā-abhidhāḥ: the appellations/names of the branches

• samākhyātāḥ: are declared/are enumerated

• ṣaṭsu: in/with the six

• vaktreṣu: faces/mouths (vaktra)

• vistṛtāḥ: expanded/explained in detail

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (iconographic/ritual exposition context)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṛttikās (Pleiades)
• Ṣaṇmukha (the six-faced deity, commonly Skanda/Kartikeya by implication)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Kartikeya
• Ritual Classification
• Temple Arts

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to an iconographic/ritual classification context, explaining how named ‘branches’ are detailed in relation to a six-faced form.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic duties by prescribing correct traditional classifications used in worship and consecration; kings and householders uphold dharma by sponsoring and performing rites with accurate iconographic knowledge.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It signals a technical mapping of named śākhās (tradition-branches or classifications) onto the ‘six faces’ motif—useful for correct deity representation, ritual manuals, and temple image-making (pratimā-lakṣaṇa).