Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Viśoka-Dvādaśī: A Lakṣmī–Viṣṇu Vow for Sorrow-Removal and P...

Devanagari script

नाभिं च पद्मनाभाय हृदयं मन्मथाय वै श्रीधराय विभोर्वक्षः करौ मधुजिते नमः //

Transliteration

nābhiṃ ca padmanābhāya hṛdayaṃ manmathāya vai śrīdharāya vibhorvakṣaḥ karau madhujite namaḥ //

Translation

Salutations to the navel of the Lotus-naveled Lord Padmanābha; to the heart of Manmatha, the enchanter; to the chest of the all-pervading Śrīdhara, bearer of Śrī; and salutations to the hands of Madhujit, slayer of Madhu.

Word by Word

• nābhim: navel

• ca: and

• padmanābhāya: to Padmanābha (the Lord whose navel bears the lotus)

• hṛdayam: heart

• manmathāya: to Manmatha (the one who stirs desire/attraction

• vai: indeed

• śrīdharāya: to Śrīdhara (bearer of Lakṣmī)

• vibhoḥ: of the all-pervading Lord

• vakṣaḥ: chest/breast

• karau: the two hands

• madhujite: to Madhujit (conqueror/slayer of Madhu)

• namaḥ: salutation.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating a devotional/ritual praise as transmitted in the Matsya Purana tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Padmanābha
• Śrīdhara
• Madhujit
• Manmatha (as epithet)

Tags

• Iconography
• Stotra
• Vishnu
• Nama-japa
• Ritual

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it praises Vishnu through epithets like Padmanābha (lotus-navel), a classic marker of cosmic creation imagery; it is not a Pralaya narrative verse but a devotional identification of the Lord as the cosmic source.

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

As an anga-vandana (limb-wise salutation), it supports daily dharma through worship, purity of mind, and remembrance of the divine protector—recommended practices for householders and rulers to cultivate steadiness, self-control, and auspiciousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions like a nyāsa/anga-pūjā style invocation—honoring specific limbs and names of Vishnu—useful in temple worship sequences and personal puja before offerings, reinforcing iconographic contemplation during darśana.