Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Ritual Bathing

Devanagari script

नन्दिनीत्येव ते नाम देवेषु नलिनीति च दक्षा पृथ्वी च विहगा विश्वकायामृता शिवा //

Transliteration

nandinītyeva te nāma deveṣu nalinīti ca dakṣā pṛthvī ca vihagā viśvakāyāmṛtā śivā //

Translation

Among the gods, your names are indeed “Nandinī” and also “Nalinī”; you are “Dakṣā”, “Pṛthvī”, “Vihagā”, “Viśvakāyā”, “Amṛtā”, and “Śivā”.

Word by Word

• nandinī: the joyous/bliss-giving goddess

• iti eva: thus indeed

• te: your

• nāma: name(s)

• deveṣu: among the gods / in the divine sphere

• nalinī: lotus-like / she of the lotus

• ca: and

• dakṣā: the capable, skillful one

• pṛthvī: the Earth (as goddess)

• ca: and

• vihagā: bird-like / sky-going (swift, far-ranging)

• viśvakāyā: whose body is the universe / all-formed

• amṛtā: immortal, nectar-like

• śivā: auspicious, beneficent.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely context of a Devī-stuti/nāma recital in the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Nandinī
• Nalinī
• Dakṣā
• Pṛthvī
• Vihagā
• Viśvakāyā
• Amṛtā
• Śivā
• Devī (Goddess)

Tags

• Devī Stuti
• Divine Names
• Shakti
• Mantra-Recitation
• Puranic Theology

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents the Goddess as “Viśvakāyā” (universal-bodied) and “Pṛthvī” (Earth), implying she pervades and sustains the cosmos across cycles—even when worlds undergo transformation in pralaya.

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

By prescribing reverent remembrance of Devī through her epithets (nāma-smaraṇa), it supports the householder/kingly duty of daily worship and protection of dharma through auspicious rites that cultivate steadiness, prosperity, and ethical governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a nāma-recitation (stuti) used in pūjā and mantra-japa; such name-lists are commonly integrated into temple liturgy and consecration contexts, aligning the worshipper with “Śivā” (auspiciousness) and “Amṛtā” (immortal vitality).