Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Ananta-Tritiya

Devanagari script

वरदायै नमः पादौ तथा गुल्फौ नमः श्रियै अशोकायै नमो जङ्घे पार्वत्यै जानुनी तथा //

Transliteration

varadāyai namaḥ pādau tathā gulphau namaḥ śriyai aśokāyai namo jaṅghe pārvatyai jānunī tathā //

Translation

Salutations to Varadā at the feet; likewise salutations to Śrī at the ankles. Salutations to Aśokā at the shanks; and likewise to Pārvatī at the knees.

Word by Word

• varadāyai: to Varadā (the boon-giving Goddess)

• namaḥ: salutation

• pādau: the two feet

• tathā: likewise/and

• gulphau: the two ankles

• śriyai: to Śrī (Lakṣmī, auspicious prosperity)

• aśokāyai: to Aśokā (the sorrow-dispelling Goddess)

• jaṅghe: the two shanks/calves

• pārvatyai: to Pārvatī (daughter of the mountain, Devī)

• jānunī: the two knees

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching a ritual/iconographic limb-salutation/nyāsa sequence to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Varadā
• Śrī
• Aśokā
• Pārvatī
• Devī (implied)

Tags

• Iconography
• Nyasa
• Ritual
• Devī
• Pratima-Lakshana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is a ritualized mapping of divine epithets onto bodily limbs, used for worship, consecration, or meditative installation (nyāsa).

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

It supports dharmic practice through daily or occasional worship: a king or householder is encouraged to honor the Devī with disciplined ritual forms that cultivate auspiciousness (Śrī), relief from sorrow (Aśokā), and the granting of boons (Varadā).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as aṅga-nyāsa/aṅga-stuti—assigning specific Devī-names to specific limbs—often used during prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā, pūjā, or icon installation in accordance with Matsya Purana pratima-lakṣaṇa and temple-ritual procedure.