Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

पूर्वोत्तराषाढयुगे च नाभिं त्वष्ट्रे नमः सप्ततरंगमाय तीक्ष्णांशवे च श्रवणे च कुक्षौ पृष्ठं धनिष्ठासु विकर्तनाय //

Transliteration

pūrvottarāṣāḍhayuge ca nābhiṃ tvaṣṭre namaḥ saptataraṃgamāya tīkṣṇāṃśave ca śravaṇe ca kukṣau pṛṣṭhaṃ dhaniṣṭhāsu vikartanāya //

Translation

In the paired nakṣatras Pūrvāṣāḍhā and Uttarāṣāḍhā, one should meditate upon the navel; obeisance to Tvaṣṭṛ, Lord of the sevenfold waves (rays). In Śravaṇa, one should meditate upon the belly; obeisance to Tīkṣṇāṃśu, the Sun of sharp rays. In Dhaniṣṭhā, one should meditate upon the back; obeisance to Vikartana, the radiant and scorching Sun.

Word by Word

• pūrva-uttarāṣāḍhā-yuge: in the pair (yuga) of Pūrvāṣāḍhā and Uttarāṣāḍhā

• nābhim: the navel

• tvaṣṭre: to Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine fashioner, a solar epithet)

• namaḥ: salutations/obeisance

• sapta-taraṃga-māya: consisting of seven waves (i.e., sevenfold radiance/rays)

• tīkṣṇāṃśave: to Tīkṣṇāṃśu (Sharp-rayed Sun)

• śravaṇe: in (the nakshatra) Śravaṇa

• kukṣau: in the belly/flanks

• pṛṣṭham: the back

• dhaniṣṭhāsu: in (the nakshatra) Dhaniṣṭhā

• vikartanāya: to Vikartana (a name of Sūrya, ‘the radiant/scorching one’).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on ritual/meditative placement connected with nakshatras and solar epithets)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Solar Deity)
• Tvaṣṭṛ
• Tīkṣṇāṃśu
• Vikartana
• Pūrvāṣāḍhā
• Uttarāṣāḍhā
• Śravaṇa
• Dhaniṣṭhā

Tags

• Iconography
• Nyasa
• Surya
• Nakshatra
• Mantra

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it teaches a ritual-visualization (nyāsa) in which parts of the body are associated with specific nakshatras and solar epithets for worship.

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

It supports the king/householder’s dharma by prescribing disciplined daily worship—especially solar devotion—through precise mantra-salutations and meditative placement, reinforcing order (ṛta) and personal purity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it is a nyāsa/anga-vinyāsa style instruction: placing the deity’s presence on specific body loci while reciting names of Sūrya; such procedures are often paired with temple iconography and consecration routines in Purāṇic practice.