Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Rohiṇī–Candraśayana Vow

Devanagari script

सोमाय शान्ताय नमो ऽस्तु पादाव् अनन्तधाम्नेति च जानुजङ्घे ऊरुद्वयं चापि जलोदराय सम्पूजयेन्मेढ्रमनन्तबाहवे //

Transliteration

somāya śāntāya namo 'stu pādāv anantadhāmneti ca jānujaṅghe ūrudvayaṃ cāpi jalodarāya sampūjayenmeḍhramanantabāhave //

Translation

Let him bow to the two feet, saying, “Homage to Soma, the Peaceful.” Let him worship the knees and shanks with the formula, “(Homage) to the One whose abode is endless.” Let him also worship the pair of thighs with “(Homage) to Jalodara (the One with the watery belly).” Let him duly worship the generative organ with “(Homage) to Anantabāhu, the One of infinite arms.”

Word by Word

• somāya: to Soma

• śāntāya: to the peaceful/placid one

• namaḥ astu: let there be homage

• pādau: the two feet

• ananta-dhāmne: to the one whose abode (dhāman) is endless

• iti: thus (as the mantra-formula)

• ca: and

• jānu-jaṅghe: (the) knees and shanks/legs

• ūru-dvayam: the pair of thighs

• api: also

• jalodarāya: to Jalodara (literally, 'water-bellied')

• sampūjayet: he should worship duly/fully

• meḍhram: the generative organ

• ananta-bāhave: to Anantabāhu (literally, 'infinite-armed')

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s ritual instructions; the underlying teaching is traditionally attributed to Lord Matsya’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Anantadhāman
• Jalodara
• Anantabāhu

Tags

• Iconography
• Ritual worship
• Nyasa
• Mantra
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it preserves a ritual theology where cosmic epithets (e.g., “endless abode,” “infinite arms”) are mapped onto the deity’s limbs, implying the deity’s limitless, sustaining nature across cycles of creation and dissolution.

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

It supports the householder’s (and king’s) dharma of daily worship: performing orderly aṅga-pūjā with appropriate names/mantras cultivates discipline, purity, and devotion—qualities expected of rulers and householders in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it is a clear aṅga-pūjā/nyāsa sequence—assigning specific divine epithets to specific body parts during worship; such prescriptions commonly accompany temple pūjā manuals and iconography sections that inform how images are honored in consecrated spaces.