Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Nakṣatra-Puruṣa Vrata: Worship of Viṣṇu’s Cosmic Body through the Lunar M...

Devanagari script

कटिं नमः शार्ङ्गधराय विष्णोः सम्पूजयेन्नारद कृत्तिकासु तथार्चयेद्भाद्रपदाद्वये च पार्श्वे नमः केशिनिषूदनाय //

Transliteration

kaṭiṃ namaḥ śārṅgadharāya viṣṇoḥ sampūjayennārada kṛttikāsu tathārcayedbhādrapadādvaye ca pārśve namaḥ keśiniṣūdanāya //

Translation

With the mantra, “Homage at the waist to Viṣṇu, the bearer of the Śārṅga bow,” one should duly worship that limb. O Nārada, one should likewise perform worship in the Kṛttikā asterism, and also offer worship in the two Bhādrapadas; and at the sides (flanks) one should say, “Homage to Keśiniṣūdana (the slayer of Keśin).”

Word by Word

• कटिम् (kaṭim): the waist/hips

• नमः (namaḥ): homage/salutation

• शार्ङ्गधराय (śārṅgadharāya): to the bearer of the Śārṅga bow

• विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ): of/unto Viṣṇu

• सम्पूजयेत् (sampūjayet): should worship fully/with due offerings

• नारद (nārada): O Nārada

• कृत्तिकासु (kṛttikāsu): in (the nakṣatra) Kṛttikā

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अर्चयेत् (arcayet): should worship/offer adoration

• भाद्रपदाद्वये (bhādrapadādvaye): in the pair of Bhādrapadā nakṣatras (Pūrvabhādrapadā and Uttarabhādrapadā)

• च (ca): and

• पार्श्वे (pārśve): at the side/flank

• नमः (namaḥ): homage

• केशिनिषूदनाय (keśiniṣūdanāya): to Keśiniṣūdana, ‘slayer of Keśin’ (an epithet of Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing (addressing) Narada in a ritual/iconography passage

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Narada
• Sharngadhara (Vishnu as bearer of Śārṅga)
• Keśiniṣūdana (Vishnu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Kṛttikā (nakṣatra)
• Pūrvabhādrapadā (implied)
• Uttarabhādrapadā (implied)

Tags

• Iconography
• Ritual
• Nyasa
• Vishnu
• Nakshatra

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on ritual procedure—limb-wise salutations and auspicious timing (nakṣatras) for worship of Viṣṇu.

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

It supports the householder/royal duty of maintaining dharmic worship: performing orderly pūjā with prescribed mantras and observing sacred calendrical timing (nakṣatra-based observances).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it prescribes aṅga-pūjā/nyāsa-style worship—assigning specific Viṣṇu epithets to body parts (waist, sides) and recommending worship on specific nakṣatras (Kṛttikā, the two Bhādrapadās), useful for temple liturgy and home pūjā scheduling.