Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

विभूतये नमः पादाव् अशोकाय च जानुनी नमः शिवायेत्यूरू च विश्वमूर्ते नमः कटिम् //

Transliteration

vibhūtaye namaḥ pādāv aśokāya ca jānunī namaḥ śivāyetyūrū ca viśvamūrte namaḥ kaṭim //

Translation

Salutation to the Lord as “Vibhūti” upon the feet; salutation to “Aśoka” upon the knees; salutation to “Śiva” upon the thighs; and salutation to “Viśvamūrti” upon the waist.

Word by Word

• विभूतये (vibhūtaye): to Vibhūti, the Lord’s manifest glory/power

• नमः (namaḥ): salutation

• पादौ (pādau): the two feet

• अशोकाय (aśokāya): to Aśoka, the sorrowless/grief-dispelling one

• च (ca): and

• जानुनी (jānunī): the two knees

• शिवाय (śivāya): to Śiva, the auspicious/beneficent one

• इति (iti): thus (as the formula)

• ऊरू (ūrū): the thighs

• च (ca): and

• विश्वमूर्ते (viśvamūrte): to Viśvamūrti, whose form is the universe

• नमः (namaḥ): salutation

• कटिम् (kaṭim): the waist/hips.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (context: ritual/iconographic recitation)

Entities Mentioned

• Vibhūti
• Aśoka
• Śiva (as an epithet: auspicious)
• Viśvamūrti

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual Mantra
• Aṅga-Namaskāra
• Vishnu Epithets

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is an iconographic/ritual formula that maps divine epithets onto specific limbs, emphasizing the Lord’s immanent presence in embodied form.

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

It supports the householder/kingly duty of proper worship (pūjā) by prescribing disciplined, limb-specific salutations—an aspect of daily and ceremonial devotion aligned with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions like aṅga-nyāsa/aṅga-namaskāra used during consecration and worship of images; in temple practice, such sequences accompany installation (pratiṣṭhā) and formal pūjā to sanctify the deity’s icon limb-by-limb.