Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

हस्ते तु हस्ता मधुसूदनाय नमो ऽभिपूज्या इति कैटभारेः पुनर्वसावङ्गुलिपूर्वभागाः साम्नामधीशाय नमो ऽभिपूज्याः //

Transliteration

haste tu hastā madhusūdanāya namo 'bhipūjyā iti kaiṭabhāreḥ punarvasāvaṅgulipūrvabhāgāḥ sāmnāmadhīśāya namo 'bhipūjyāḥ //

Translation

Upon the hands: “Hastā—salutations to Madhusūdana,” thus they are to be duly worshipped for the Slayer of Kaiṭabha. Upon the foremost joints of the fingers: “Punarvasu—salutations to the Lord of the Sāmans,” thus they too are to be duly worshipped.

Word by Word

• हस्ते: in the hand(s)

• तु: indeed/then

• हस्ता: (name/mantra) ‘Hastā’

• मधुसूदनाय: to Madhusūdana (Vishnu, slayer of Madhu)

• नमः: salutation

• अभिपूज्याः: to be specially worshipped/invoked

• इति: thus

• कैटभारेः: of the destroyer/slayer of Kaiṭabha (Vishnu)

• पुनर्वसौ: (name/mantra) ‘Punarvasu’

• अङ्गुलि-पूर्व-भागाः: the front/fore parts of the fingers (finger-joints/tips)

• साम्नाम्: of the Sāman chants (Sāmaveda hymns)

• अधीशाय: to the Lord/overlord

• नमः: salutation

• अभिपूज्याः: to be specially worshipped/invoked

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (ritual/nyāsa-style invocation context)

Entities Mentioned

• Madhusūdana
• Kaiṭabha
• Vishnu
• Sāman (Sāmaveda)

Tags

• Vishnu-stuti
• Nyasa
• Mantra
• Ritual-invocation
• Iconography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it focuses on ritualized salutations (nyāsa-like worship) to Vishnu through specific body-parts (hands and finger-joints) using sacred name-formulas.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of daily worship (nitya-pūjā) by prescribing precise invocations—disciplining devotion through orderly mantra-recitation and bodily placement, a hallmark of Purāṇic ritual conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it indicates a body-mapping invocation: hands are consecrated to Madhusūdana and the finger-fronts/joints to “Punarvasu” with salutation to the Lord of Sāman chants—useful for pūjā, nyāsa, and image-worship preliminaries.