Shloka 51

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

विन्ध्यवृद्धिक्षयकर मेघतोयविषापह रत्नवल्लभ देवेश लङ्कावासिन्नमो ऽस्तु ते //

Transliteration

vindhyavṛddhikṣayakara meghatoyaviṣāpaha ratnavallabha deveśa laṅkāvāsinnamo 'stu te //

Translation

O Lord who can cause the Vindhya to wax or wane, remover of the poison in rain-water, beloved of jewels, Lord of the gods, Dweller in Laṅkā—salutations be to You.

Word by Word

• vindhya: the Vindhya mountain-range

• vṛddhi: increase, growth

• kṣaya: decrease, diminution

• kara: maker, doer

• vindhya-vṛddhi-kṣaya-kara: the one who brings about the Vindhya’s increase and decrease

• megha: cloud

• toya: water

• viṣa: poison

• apaha (apahaḥ/apaha): remover, dispeller

• megha-toya-viṣa-apaha: remover of poison from rain-water

• ratna: jewel, gem

• vallabha: beloved, dear

• ratna-vallabha: dear to (or fond of) jewels

• deva: god

• īśa: lord

• deveśa: Lord of the gods

• laṅkā: Laṅkā

• vāsin: dweller, resident

• laṅkā-vāsin: dweller in Laṅkā

• namaḥ astu te: salutations be to you.

Speaker

• A devotee/narratorial voice offering stuti (hymn) within the Matsya Purana’s sacred-place discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Vindhya
• Megha (clouds)
• Laṅkā
• Deveśa (Lord of the gods)

Tags

• Stuti
• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Sacred Geography
• Devotional Hymn
• Protective Epithets

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it praises divine sovereignty over natural processes—growth and decline of mountains and the purification of waters—powers that, in Purāṇic thought, also underlie cosmic maintenance.

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

The verse models daily dharmic conduct through reverent praise (stuti) and recognition of divine guardianship over public welfare resources like water; for householders and kings alike, honoring the divine and protecting clean water are implied ethical duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a protective invocation (namas) emphasizing purification of water—relevant to temple and domestic rites where uncontaminated water is essential for abhiṣeka, ācamana, and consecrations.