Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Procedure and Merit of the Śubha-Saptamī Vrata

Devanagari script

कपिलां पूजयेद्भक्त्या गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः नमामि सूर्यसम्भूताम् अशेषभुवनालयाम् त्वामहं शुभकल्याणशरीरां सर्वसिद्धये //

Transliteration

kapilāṃ pūjayedbhaktyā gandhamālyānulepanaiḥ namāmi sūryasambhūtām aśeṣabhuvanālayām tvāmahaṃ śubhakalyāṇaśarīrāṃ sarvasiddhaye //

Translation

With devotion one should worship the tawny Kapilā goddess with perfumes, garlands, and unguents: “I bow to you—born of the Sun, the abiding support of all worlds; I revere you, whose form is auspicious and beneficent, for the attainment of every success.”

Word by Word

• कपिलाम्: the tawny one / Kapilā (a revered goddess/cow-form auspicious presence)

• पूजयेत्: one should worship

• भक्त्या: with devotion

• गन्ध: perfumes

• माल्य: garlands

• अनुलेपनैः: with anointments/unguents

• नमामि: I bow/salute

• सूर्यसम्भूताम्: born of the Sun

• अशेष: without remainder, all

• भुवन: worlds

• आलयाम्: abode/support/resting-place

• त्वाम्: you

• अहम्: I

• शुभ: auspicious

• कल्याण: благоприятное/beneficent, welfare

• शरीराम्: embodied form

• सर्वसिद्धये: for all attainments/successes.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching to Vaivasvata Manu in a prescriptive, ritual register)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūrya (Sun deity)
• Kapilā (auspicious revered form; often understood as a goddess/cow-associated auspicious power)

Tags

• Puja
• Ritual offerings
• Stotra
• Devotional practice
• Siddhi

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on devotional worship and a salutation to a Sun-born divine presence described as the support/abode of all worlds.

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

It presents a practical dharmic duty: performing pūjā with devotion and proper offerings (perfume, garlands, unguents) to seek welfare and “sarva-siddhi,” aligning with the householder/kingly role of sustaining auspiciousness and prosperity through regulated ritual.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies standard pūjā upacāras—gandha (fragrance), mālya (garlands), and anulepana (anointing)—indicating the correct offering set for a deity-image or sacred presence, a key detail for Matsya Purana-style worship procedure.