Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

चक्रिणे वामबाहुं च दक्षिणं गदिने नमः वैकुण्ठाय नमः कण्ठम् आस्यं यज्ञमुखाय वै //

Transliteration

cakriṇe vāmabāhuṃ ca dakṣiṇaṃ gadine namaḥ vaikuṇṭhāya namaḥ kaṇṭham āsyaṃ yajñamukhāya vai //

Translation

Salutations to the Bearer of the discus—placing reverence upon the left arm; and salutations to the Bearer of the mace—placing reverence upon the right arm. Salutations to Vaikuṇṭha—placing reverence upon the throat; and indeed salutations to Yajña-mukha—placing reverence upon the mouth/face.

Word by Word

• चक्रिणे (cakriṇe): to the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu)

• वाम-बाहुम् (vāma-bāhum): the left arm

• च (ca): and

• दक्षिणम् (dakṣiṇam): the right (side/arm)

• गदिने (gadine): to the mace-bearer

• नमः (namaḥ): salutations

• वैकुण्ठाय (vaikuṇṭhāya): to Vaikuṇṭha (Viṣṇu as Lord of Vaikuṇṭha)

• कण्ठम् (kaṇṭham): the throat/neck

• आस्यं (āsyaṁ): the mouth/face

• यज्ञ-मुखाय (yajña-mukhāya): to Yajña-mukha (He whose ‘face’ is sacrifice / the Lord manifest in yajña)

• वै (vai): indeed/emphatically.

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial transmission of a Viṣṇu-nyāsa/stuti instruction within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Chakrin (Discus-bearer)
• Gadin (Mace-bearer)
• Vaikuntha
• Yajña-mukha

Tags

• Iconography
• Nyasa
• Mantra
• Vishnu
• Ritual

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it is a ritualized identification of Viṣṇu with sacred powers (weapons and divine epithets) through aṅga-nyāsa, emphasizing Viṣṇu as the sustaining, order-giving principle.

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

For householders and rulers, it models daily or ceremonial devotion: aligning one’s body and speech with dharma through disciplined worship (nyāsa and salutations), a common Purāṇic support for righteous conduct and kingship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it indicates aṅga-nyāsa—mapping divine names onto body parts (left arm, right arm, throat, mouth). Such mapping also informs temple iconography (pratimā-lakṣaṇa) by highlighting Viṣṇu’s attributes (cakra, gadā) and theological functions (Vaikuṇṭha, Yajña-mukha).