Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 90

Devanagari script

यक्षाः कृष्णाम्बरभृतो भीमबाणधनुर्धराः ताम्रोलूकध्वजा रौद्रा हेमरत्नविभूषणाः //

Transliteration

yakṣāḥ kṛṣṇāmbarabhṛto bhīmabāṇadhanurdharāḥ tāmrolūkadhvajā raudrā hemaratnavibhūṣaṇāḥ //

Translation

夜叉身着黑衣，执可怖之弓与箭；其旗帜绘有铜色猫头鹰之记，形貌凶烈，而以黄金与宝珠为饰。

Word by Word

• यक्षाः (yakṣāḥ): Yakshas, tutelary nature-spirits/guardians

• कृष्णाम्बरभृतः (kṛṣṇāmbarabhṛtaḥ): wearing black garments

• भीम (bhīma): terrible, fearsome

• बाण (bāṇa): arrows

• धनुर्धराः (dhanurdharāḥ): bow-bearers, holding bows

• ताम्र (tāmra): copper-colored

• उलूक (ulūka): owl

• ध्वजाः (dhvajāḥ): having banners/standards

• रौद्राः (raudrāḥ): fierce, wrathful in appearance

• हेम (hema): gold

• रत्न (ratna): jewels, gems

• विभूषणाः (vibhūṣaṇāḥ): adorned, ornamented

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on iconographic/ritual descriptions)

Entities Mentioned

• Yakshas

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual
• Temple Art
• Guardians

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is an iconographic description, specifying the visual attributes by which Yakshas should be recognized or represented.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance and household worship by standardizing correct religious imagery—useful for kings commissioning temples and for householders maintaining proper devotional representations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides pratima-lakshana (image-identification markers): black attire, bow-and-arrow armament, owl-emblem banners, and gold-jewel ornamentation—details used by sculptors and temple planners for accurate guardian/attendant depictions.