Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — The Terror of Tripura and the Gods’ Hymn to Śiva

Devanagari script

महादेवाय भीमाय त्र्यम्बकाय च शान्तये ईशानाय भयघ्नाय नमस्त्वन्धकघातिने //

Transliteration

mahādevāya bhīmāya tryambakāya ca śāntaye īśānāya bhayaghnāya namastvandhakaghātine //

Translation

Salutations to Mahādeva, to Bhīma, to Tryambaka, and to the giver of peace; salutations to Īśāna, the destroyer of fear—obeisance to the slayer of Andhaka.

Word by Word

• महादेवाय (mahādevāya): to Mahādeva, the Great God (Śiva)

• भीमाय (bhīmāya): to the formidable/terrible One

• त्र्यम्बकाय (tryambakāya): to Tryambaka, the three-eyed Lord

• च (ca): and

• शान्तये (śāntaye): to Peace / the bestower of tranquility

• ईशानाय (īśānāya): to Īśāna, the sovereign Lord (a form/aspect of Śiva)

• भयघ्नाय (bhayaghnāya): to the destroyer of fear

• नमस् (namas): salutation/obeisance

• त्व (tva): to you

• अन्धकघातिने (andhakaghātine): to the slayer of Andhaka (the demon).

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice) presenting a Śiva-stotra within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Mahādeva
• Bhīma
• Tryambaka
• Īśāna
• Andhaka

Tags

• Shiva Stotra
• Rudra
• Protection
• Fearlessness
• Demon-slaying

FAQs

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

This verse is not a Pralaya-teaching; it functions as a protective Śaiva salutation emphasizing Śiva’s sovereignty, peace-bestowing power, and fear-destroying grace.

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

By praising Śiva as bhayaghna (destroyer of fear) and śānti (peace), the verse supports the Purāṇic ethic that rulers and householders should seek inner steadiness and divine protection to uphold dharma without panic or cruelty.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse is primarily ritual-devotional: it supplies epithets used in japa and stotra-recitation, commonly integrated into Śiva-pūjā and temple liturgy (especially invocations to Tryambaka/Īśāna for protection and peace).