Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

पूर्वासु गोब्राह्मणवन्दनाय नेत्राणि संपूज्यतमानि शम्भोः अथोत्तराफल्गुनिभे भ्रुवौ च विश्वेश्वरायेति च पूजनीये //

Transliteration

pūrvāsu gobrāhmaṇavandanāya netrāṇi saṃpūjyatamāni śambhoḥ athottarāphalgunibhe bhruvau ca viśveśvarāyeti ca pūjanīye //

Translation

On the eastern side, for paying homage to cows and Brahmins, one should reverently worship the supremely sacred eyes of Śambhu (Śiva). Then, on the northern side—shining like the nakṣatra Uttarāphālgunī—one should worship the eyebrows as well, with the invocation: “Salutations to Viśveśvara.”

Word by Word

• पूर्वासु: on the eastern side/direction

• गो-ब्राह्मण-वन्दनाय: for the act of saluting/revering cows and Brahmins

• नेत्राणि: the eyes

• संपूज्यतमानि: most worthy of complete worship / to be worshipped with special reverence

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)

• अथ: then

• उत्तरा-फल्गुनि-भे: resembling (the brightness/auspiciousness of) Uttarāphālgunī (a nakṣatra)

• भ्रुवौ: the two eyebrows

• च: and

• विश्वेश्वराय इति: with the formula “to Viśveśvara” / saying “Viśveśvarāya”

• च: and

• पूजनीये: should be worshipped / are to be worshipped.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu) — likely, within the Purana’s instructional dialogue on ritual/iconography

Entities Mentioned

• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Vishveshvara
• Gau (Cow)
• Brahmana
• Uttaraphalguni (Nakshatra)

Tags

• Iconography
• Ritual
• Shiva Worship
• Directional Worship
• Mantra

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on ritual worship (aṅga-pūjā) and directional invocations connected with venerating Śiva’s features.

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

It reinforces dharma through prescribed reverence: honoring cows and Brahmins (go-brāhmaṇa-vandana) and performing orderly worship. For householders and rulers alike, such rites are presented as sustaining social-religious order and accruing merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it assigns specific body-parts of the deity (eyes, eyebrows) to be worshipped with directional orientation (east, north) and a named mantra (“Viśveśvarāya”), reflecting Matsya Purana-style temple worship sequencing used in consecration and daily pūjā.