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

ఆయన మృగవ్యాధుడు (వన్యాన్ని వశపరచు వేటగాడు), కపర్దీ (జటాధారి), దహనుడు (అగ్నిస్వరూపుడు), అలాగే ఈశ్వరుడు; భగవాన్ అహిర్బుధ్న్యుడూ; ఇంకా కపాలీ (కపాలధారి) మరియు పింగళుడు (తామ్రవర్ణుడు) కూడా.

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.