Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

एवं नियमकृत्सुप्त्वा प्रातरुत्थाय मानवः कृतस्नानजपःपश्चाद् उमया सह शंकरम् पूजयेत्कमलैः शुभ्रैर् गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः //

Transliteration

evaṃ niyamakṛtsuptvā prātarutthāya mānavaḥ kṛtasnānajapaḥpaścād umayā saha śaṃkaram pūjayetkamalaiḥ śubhrair gandhamālyānulepanaiḥ //

Translation

Thus, having slept after observing the prescribed restraints, a person should rise at dawn; and, after bathing and performing japa, he should then worship Śaṅkara together with Umā using white lotuses, fragrances, garlands, and unguents.

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• niyama-kṛt: one who has performed/observed the prescribed restraints (niyamas)

• suptvā: having slept

• prātaḥ: in the morning/at dawn

• utthāya: having risen

• mānavaḥ: a man/person

• kṛta-snānajapaḥ: one who has done bathing (snāna) and mantra-repetition (japa)

• paścāt: thereafter

• umayā saha: together with Umā (Pārvatī)

• śaṅkaram: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• pūjayet: should worship

• kamalaiḥ: with lotuses

• śubhraiḥ: white/pure

• gandha: perfumes/fragrance

• mālya: garlands

• anulepanaiḥ: with unguents/pastes (for anointing).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śaṅkara
• Umā
• mānava (the practitioner/householder)

Tags

• Dharma
• Vrata
• Śaiva Pūjā
• Morning Ritual
• Japa

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it prescribes a daily ritual sequence—restraint (niyama), dawn rising, bathing, japa, and then worship of Śiva with Umā.

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

It frames the ideal householder’s (and by extension a king’s) disciplined routine: self-restraint, purification (snāna), mantra practice (japa), and devotional worship—core markers of dharma and personal governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies standard pūjā-upacāras—white lotuses, fragrance, garlands, and anointing paste—implying purity-focused offerings and a structured morning liturgy rather than architectural rules.