Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

अव्यङ्गाङ्गाय सौम्याय सदा कल्पाणकारिणे सपत्नीकाय सम्पूज्य वस्त्रमाल्यविभूषणैः //

Transliteration

avyaṅgāṅgāya saumyāya sadā kalpāṇakāriṇe sapatnīkāya sampūjya vastramālyavibhūṣaṇaiḥ //

Translation

One should duly worship the gentle Lord—whose limbs are flawless and who ever brings auspicious well-being—together with His consort, offering garments, garlands, and ornaments.

Word by Word

• avy-aṅga-aṅgāya: to the One whose limbs are without defect

• saumyāya: to the gentle/benign One

• sadā: always

• kalpāṇa-kāriṇe: to the maker of auspicious welfare (bestower of good)

• sapatnīkāya: together with (His) consort

• sampūjya: having worshipped properly

• vastra: garments/cloth

• mālya: garlands/wreaths

• vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: with ornaments/adornments

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (likely narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (consort implied by sapatnīkāya)

Tags

• Puja
• Iconography
• Ritual offerings
• Auspiciousness
• Vaishnava worship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious devotional worship—honoring the flawless, benevolent Lord with offerings, indicating dharmic continuity through ritual rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It presents a core householder/royal duty: regular, proper worship (sampūjā) of the deity with respectful offerings. For kings, such worship supports public dharma and prosperity; for householders, it sanctifies wealth by converting it into devotional giving.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies standard upacāras (offerings)—cloth, garlands, ornaments—and indicates worship of the deity together with the consort (sapatnīkā), a key guideline for iconographic completeness and temple/household shrine worship practice.