Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

इति भक्तिस्तदा जाता दम्पत्योस्तु नराधिप तत्प्रसङ्गात्समभ्यर्च्य केशवं लवणाचलम् शय्या च पुष्पप्रकरैः पूजिता भूश्च सर्वतः //

Transliteration

iti bhaktistadā jātā dampatyostu narādhipa tatprasaṅgātsamabhyarcya keśavaṃ lavaṇācalam śayyā ca puṣpaprakaraiḥ pūjitā bhūśca sarvataḥ //

Translation

Thus, O king, devotion arose in that husband and wife. In connection with that event, they duly worshipped Keśava at Lavaṇācala; the resting-place (śayyā) was adorned with clusters of flowers, and the ground all around was likewise reverently decorated and honoured.

Word by Word

• इति (iti): thus

• भक्तिः (bhaktiḥ): devotion

• तदा (tadā): then/at that time

• जाता (jātā): arose/was born

• दम्पत्योः (dampatyoḥ): of the couple (husband and wife)

• तु (tu): indeed

• नराधिप (narādhipa): O king

• तत्-प्रसङ्गात् (tat-prasaṅgāt): due to that occasion/in that context

• समभ्यर्च्य (samabhyarcya): having duly worshipped

• केशवम् (keśavam): Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• लवणाचलम् (lavaṇācalam): Lavaṇācala, the Salt Mountain (a sacred locale)

• शय्या (śayyā): bed/resting-place/couch

• च (ca): and

• पुष्प-प्रकरैः (puṣpa-prakaraiḥ): with heaps/clusters/arrangements of flowers

• पूजिता (pūjitā): was honoured/adorned/worshipfully decorated

• भूः (bhūḥ): the earth/ground

• च (ca): and

• सर्वतः (sarvataḥ): on all sides/everywhere.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (O king)

Entities Mentioned

• Keśava (Vishnu)
• Lavaṇācala (Salt Mountain)
• a devoted couple (dampatī)

Tags

• Bhakti
• Tirtha Mahatmya
• Vaishnava Worship
• Ritual Decoration
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it highlights the arising of bhakti and the proper worship of Keśava at a sacred place, emphasizing devotional merit rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It presents the householder ideal through a devoted couple: shared worship, reverence to a sacred site, and orderly ritual conduct—models a dharmic pattern a king is expected to uphold and encourage among subjects.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it stresses preparing the worship area: adorning the śayyā (resting-place/ritual couch) with flower arrangements and honouring the surrounding ground—key principles of sacred-space beautification and purity in pūjā practice.