Shloka 178

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

न जातो ऽस्याः पतिर्देव्या यन्मयोक्तं हिमाचल न स जातो महादेवो भूतभव्यभवोद्भवः शरण्यः शाश्वतः शास्ता शंकरः परमेश्वरः //

Transliteration

na jāto 'syāḥ patirdevyā yanmayoktaṃ himācala na sa jāto mahādevo bhūtabhavyabhavodbhavaḥ śaraṇyaḥ śāśvataḥ śāstā śaṃkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ //

Translation

O Himācala, what I have said is this: for this Goddess, no husband has ever been born. Mahādeva is not born—He from whom the past, the future, and the present arise; the Refuge of all, the Eternal Ruler and Ordainer, Śaṅkara, the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• na: not

• jātaḥ: born

• asyāḥ: of her/for her

• patiḥ: husband

• devyāḥ: of the Goddess

• yat: what/that which

• mayā: by me

• uktam: said

• himācala: O Himācala (Himalaya)

• saḥ: he

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva (Śiva)

• bhūta: past/what has been

• bhavya: future/what is to be

• bhava: present/existence

• udbhavaḥ: source/origin

• śaraṇyaḥ: worthy of refuge, protector

• śāśvataḥ: eternal

• śāstā: ruler/teacher/ordainer

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (beneficent one, Śiva)

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord

Speaker

• Narrator/teacher addressing Himācala (Himalaya), in a Shaiva eulogy context

Entities Mentioned

• Devi
• Himācala (Himalaya)
• Mahādeva (Shiva)
• Śaṅkara
• Parameśvara

Tags

• Shaiva Stuti
• Theology
• Non-birth of Shiva
• Devi
• Supreme Lord

FAQs

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

It presents Mahādeva as the ultimate source from whom time—past, present, and future—arises, implying supremacy beyond cyclical creation and dissolution.

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

By calling Śiva the eternal Śāstā (ordainer), the verse frames dharma as rooted in a transcendent authority—encouraging rulers and householders to align conduct with the highest moral order and seek refuge (śaraṇa) in the divine.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While no Vāstu rule is stated directly, the verse functions as a stuti used in ritual contexts—supporting Shaiva worship where temples and consecrations invoke Śaṅkara as Parameśvara, the eternal presiding deity.