Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

त्र्यम्बकाय नमस्ते ऽस्तु महेश्वरमतः परम् नमस्ते ऽस्तु महादेव स्थाणवे च ततः परम् //

Transliteration

tryambakāya namaste 'stu maheśvaramataḥ param namaste 'stu mahādeva sthāṇave ca tataḥ param //

Translation

Salutations to Tryambaka, the Three‑eyed One. Salutations, beyond all measure, to Maheśvara. Salutations to Mahādeva; and salutations, beyond all measure, to Sthāṇu, the Immovable Lord.

Word by Word

• tryambakāya: to the Three‑eyed Lord (Śiva)

• namas-te astu: may salutations be to you

• maheśvara: the Great Lord

• mataḥ param: beyond all reckoning/measure (supremely)

• mahādeva: the Great God

• sthāṇave: to Sthāṇu, the steadfast/immovable one (Śiva)

• ca: and

• tataḥ param: beyond that again/utterly supreme

Speaker

• Narrator/reciter in a Śaiva praise passage (stotra-style; not a direct Matsya–Manu instruction line in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Tryambaka
• Maheśvara
• Mahādeva
• Sthāṇu
• Śiva

Tags

• Śiva Stotra
• Devotional Praise
• Names of Śiva
• Mantra-like Salutations
• Puranic Theology

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it establishes Śiva’s supreme, unmeasured status through epithets (Tryambaka, Maheśvara, Mahādeva, Sthāṇu), a theological framing often used before or after cosmological topics.

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

As a stotra-like salutation, it models bhakti and reverence—supporting the householder/kingly ideal of daily worship, humility, and seeking divine auspiciousness before undertaking governance, sacrifice, or vows.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a nāma-salutation (invocatory praise) to Śiva; such epithets are commonly used in pūjā and temple liturgy, though no specific Vāstu or iconographic rule is stated in this verse.