Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Rite of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow

Devanagari script

माधवायेत्युरो विष्णोः कण्ठम् उत्कण्ठिने नमः श्रीधराय मुखं केशान् केशवायेति नारद //

Transliteration

mādhavāyetyuro viṣṇoḥ kaṇṭham utkaṇṭhine namaḥ śrīdharāya mukhaṃ keśān keśavāyeti nārada //

Translation

[One should touch and consecrate:] Viṣṇu’s chest with the name “Mādhava”; the throat with “Namo Utkaṇṭhine”; the face with “Śrīdhara”; and the hair with “Keśava”—thus, O Nārada.

Word by Word

• माधवाय (mādhavāya): to Mādhava (a name of Viṣṇu)

• इति (iti): thus/with the words

• उरः (uraḥ): the chest

• विष्णोः (viṣṇoḥ): of Viṣṇu

• कण्ठम् (kaṇṭham): the throat/neck

• उत्कण्ठिने (utkaṇṭhine): to Utkaṇṭhin (an epithet/name used in worship)

• नमः (namaḥ): salutation/obeisance

• श्रीधराय (śrīdharāya): to Śrīdhara (bearer of Śrī/Lakṣmī)

• मुखम् (mukham): the face/mouth

• केशान् (keśān): the hair

• केशवाय (keśavāya): to Keśava (a name of Viṣṇu)

• इति (iti): thus

• नारद (nārada): O Nārada

Speaker

• Suta (narrating a ritual instruction addressed to Narada in the Purana’s discourse frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Madhava
• Utkanthin
• Sridharā
• Kesava
• Narada

Tags

• Nyasa
• Vishnu Sahasranama-style epithets
• Ritual practice
• Mantra
• Devotional worship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches ritual anga-nyāsa—placing Viṣṇu’s names on specific body parts as part of worship and inner consecration.

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

It supports the householder (and ruler) ideal of daily disciplined worship: mental and bodily purity through prescribed mantra-rituals, reinforcing dharma through regular devotion.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it gives a mapped sequence for touching/consecrating chest, throat, face, and hair with specific Viṣṇu epithets—an instruction used in pūjā and japa preparations.