Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

विलोहिताय धूम्राय वराय क्रथनाय च नित्यं नीलशिखण्डाय शूलिने दिव्यशायिने //

Transliteration

vilohitāya dhūmrāya varāya krathanāya ca nityaṃ nīlaśikhaṇḍāya śūline divyaśāyine //

Translation

Ever do I bow to the tawny-red One (Vilohita), the smoke-hued One, the Excellent One, and the ever-crushing destroyer of evil; to Him with the dark-blue crest of matted hair, the wielder of the trident, who reposes in divine majesty.

Word by Word

• vilohitāya: to the tawny-red/reddish One

• dhūmrāya: to the smoke-coloured One

• varāya: to the excellent/supreme One

• krathanāya: to the crusher/tormentor (of foes, of sin)

• ca: and

• nityam: always/ever

• nīla-śikhaṇḍāya: to the One whose hair-crest/topknot is dark-blue (blue-throated/blue-crested epithet by extension)

• śūline: to the trident-bearer

• divya-śāyine: to the One who lies/reposes divinely (in celestial state)

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice) presenting a Śiva-stotra within the Matsya Purāṇa

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva
• Rudra
• Śūlin (Trident-bearer)

Tags

• Shiva Stotra
• Iconography
• Divine Epithets
• Ritual Praise
• Matsya Purana Hymns

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; instead it praises Śiva through destructive and protective epithets (e.g., “krathana,” the crusher of evil), a theological hint that Śiva’s power includes dissolution of negativity and cosmic obstruction.

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

As a stotra-verse, it supports daily dharma through nitya-stuti (regular worship): a king or householder is encouraged to maintain purity, restraint, and protection of society by invoking the deity who destroys adharma (krathana) and upholds order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a mantra-like praise usable in Rudra/Śiva pūjā. Iconographically it signals key temple-image markers: Śiva as Śūlin (trident-bearing) and with a distinctive hair-crest (śikhaṇḍa), guiding pratima-lakṣaṇa identification in worship contexts.