Shloka 136

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

बहुनेत्राय धुर्याय त्रिनेत्रायेश्वराय च कपालिने च वीराय मृत्यवे त्र्यम्बकाय च //

Transliteration

bahunetrāya dhuryāya trinetrāyeśvarāya ca kapāline ca vīrāya mṛtyave tryambakāya ca //

Translation

Salutation to the Many‑eyed One, to the Bearer of the burden; to the Three‑eyed Lord; to the Skull‑bearing ascetic; to the Hero; to Death itself; and to Tryambaka, the Three‑eyed Śiva.

Word by Word

• bahu-netrāya: to the many-eyed

• dhuryāya: to the bearer of the yoke/burden (foremost sustainer)

• tri-netrāya: to the three-eyed

• īśvarāya: to the Lord

• ca: and

• kapāline: to the skull-bearer (Kāpālin)

• vīrāya: to the heroic one

• mṛtyave: to Death (the one who ends life / the lord over death)

• tryambakāya: to Tryambaka (Śiva, the three-eyed one)

• ca: and

Speaker

• Sūta (or the narrator of the Purāṇic discourse) presenting a Śiva-stuti as part of the chapter’s litany

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra-Śiva
• Tryambaka
• Kapālin
• Mṛtyu (Death)

Tags

• Shiva Stotra
• Iconography
• Rudra Epithets
• Ritual Recitation
• Theology

FAQs

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

By calling Śiva “Mṛtyu” (Death) and “Īśvara” (Lord), the verse frames him as the sovereign power over endings—an idea aligned with Purāṇic pralaya themes where dissolution is governed by divine authority rather than mere chaos.

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

It functions as a devotional formula (stuti) for daily worship: a householder or king honors the Lord who upholds and also ends life, cultivating humility, fearlessness, and dharmic restraint in governance and personal conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it is a name-by-name salutation suited for japa or pūjā; iconographically it points to Śiva’s defining marks—especially the three eyes and the skull-bearing (Kāpālin) aspect—useful for identifying or commissioning correct temple imagery.