Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Mahāgaurī’s Entry

Devanagari script

*वीरक उवाच नतसुरासुरमौलिमिलन्मणिप्रचयकान्तिकरालनखाङ्किते नगसुते शरणागतवत्सले तव नतो ऽस्मि नतार्तिविनाशिनि //

Transliteration

*vīraka uvāca natasurāsuramaulimilanmaṇipracayakāntikarālanakhāṅkite nagasute śaraṇāgatavatsale tava nato 'smi natārtivināśini //

Translation

Vīraka said: O daughter of the Mountain, whose awe-inspiring nails are marked with the radiant luster of heaps of jewels pressed together from the diadems of bowing gods and demons; O loving protectress of those who seek refuge— I bow to you, O destroyer of the distress of those who bow.

Word by Word

• vīrakaḥ uvāca: Vīraka said

• nata: bowed/downcast in reverence

• sura-asura: gods and demons

• mauli: diadem/crown

• milan: coming together/pressing

• maṇi-pracaya: heaps/collections of jewels

• kānti: radiance/splendor

• karāla: formidable/awe-inspiring

• nakha: nails

• aṅkita: marked/imprinted

• naga-sute: O daughter of the mountain (Pārvatī)

• śaraṇāgata-vatsale: affectionate to/protective of those who come for refuge

• tava: to you/your

• nataḥ asmi: I am bowed/I bow

• nata-ārti-vināśini: destroyer of the suffering (ārti) of those who bow

Speaker

• Vīraka

Entities Mentioned

• Nagasutā (Pārvatī / Daughter of the Mountain)
• Devas (Suras)
• Asuras

Tags

• Devi Stuti
• Śaraṇāgati
• Protection
• Bhakti
• Puranic Hymn

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a devotional refuge-prayer (śaraṇāgati) describing the Goddess as the remover of devotees’ suffering, emphasizing protection rather than cosmology.

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

It models the ethic of humility and seeking righteous protection: a king or householder is encouraged to cultivate reverence, surrender pride, and rely on dharmic refuge (devotional discipline) when afflicted, rather than acting from fear or arrogance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu/temple-measurement rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is stuti as a valid act of worship—praising the deity’s protective nature and approaching with bowing (namas) as a core devotional procedure.