Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

उरगाय त्रिनेत्राय हिरण्यवसुरेतसे अचिन्त्यायाम्बिकाभर्त्रे सर्वदेवस्तुताय च //

Transliteration

uragāya trinetrāya hiraṇyavasuretase acintyāyāmbikābhartre sarvadevastutāya ca //

Translation

Salutations to Him who is associated with serpents, to the Three-eyed Lord; to Him whose vital seed is golden and radiant; to the inconceivable One; to the consort of Ambikā (Pārvatī); and to Him who is praised by all the gods.

Word by Word

• uragāya: to the serpent-associated One (or: to the serpent-like/serpent-adorned Lord)

• trinetrāya: to the Three-eyed One

• hiraṇya: golden, radiant

• vasu: excellent, precious (also: the Vasus)

• retase: to (His) seed/creative potency

• hiraṇya-vasu-retase: to Him whose generative potency is golden and supremely radiant/precious

• acintyāya: to the inconceivable One

• ambikā-bhartre: to the husband/lord of Ambikā (Pārvatī)

• sarva-deva-stutāya: to the One praised by all the gods

• ca: and

Speaker

• Narrator within a Shaiva stotra context (hymn-voice; traditionally framed by Suta/reciters in Purana narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Ambika (Parvati)
• Sarva-devas (all gods)
• Serpents (Nagas)

Tags

• Shiva Stotra
• Rudra
• Trinetra
• Iconography
• Devotional Hymn

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to Shiva’s transcendent and inconceivable nature (acintya) and His supreme creative potency (retas), themes often linked in Purāṇic thought to cosmic manifestation and withdrawal, though this verse itself is primarily devotional praise rather than a Pralaya narrative.

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

As a stotra-verse, it models bhakti and reverential recitation (stuti) as a household practice; for kings, such praise supports dharmic rule by aligning sovereignty with divine order—honoring the deity praised by all gods (sarvadevastuta).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse supplies key iconographic identifiers for worship and installation—especially “Three-eyed” (trinetrāya) and serpent association (uraga)—useful when selecting Shiva forms for pūjā, temple iconography, and mantra-stuti sequences in ritual.