Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

नमो नमः कारणवामनाय स्वातीषु दन्ताग्रमथार्चनीयम् आस्यं हरेर्भार्गवनन्दनाय संपूजनीयं द्विज वारुणे तु //

Transliteration

namo namaḥ kāraṇavāmanāya svātīṣu dantāgramathārcanīyam āsyaṃ harerbhārgavanandanāya saṃpūjanīyaṃ dvija vāruṇe tu //

Translation

Salutations again and again to Kāraṇa-Vāmana, Vāmana as the Supreme Cause. On the Svātī nakṣatra day, the tips of the teeth are to be worshipped; and, O twice-born one, under the Vāruṇa nakṣatra, Hari’s mouth is to be worshipped with full reverence, for Bhārgava’s son (the descendant of Bhṛgu).

Word by Word

• namo namaḥ: repeated salutations

• kāraṇa-vāmanāya: to Vāmana who is the (cosmic) cause / the causal form of Vāmana

• svātīṣu: on (the occasion of) Svātī nakṣatra

• danta-agram: the tip(s) of the teeth

• atha: then/indeed

• arcanīyam: should be worshipped

• āsyaṃ: mouth/face

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)

• bhārgava-nandanāya: for/unto Bhārgava’s son (descendant of Bhṛgu

• saṃpūjanīyam: to be worshipped thoroughly / with full offerings

• dvija: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)

• vāruṇe: on/under Vāruṇa nakṣatra

• tu: indeed/and

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, addressing a dvija/ritual specialist within the discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vamana
• Svati Nakshatra
• Varuna (as Vāruṇa Nakshatra)
• Bhṛgu (via Bhārgava)

Tags

• Vrata
• Nakshatra
• Ritual Worship
• Hari Stuti
• Iconography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to a ritual instruction stream, prescribing nakṣatra-timed worship of specific parts of Hari’s form.

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

It supports the householder’s dharma through vrata-vidhi: observing auspicious nakṣatra days and performing orderly worship (arcana) as part of regular religious discipline and merit-making.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it encodes a limb-wise (aṅga) worship system tied to nakṣatras—useful for temple pūjā scheduling and iconographic focus during specific lunar mansion observances.