Matsya Purana — The Rite of Gifting the ‘Silver Mountain’, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

सोमलोके स गन्धर्वैः किंनराप्सरसां गणैः पूज्यमानो वसेद्विद्वान् यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् //

Transliteration

somaloke sa gandharvaiḥ kiṃnarāpsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ pūjyamāno vasedvidvān yāvadābhūtasaṃplavam //

Translation

Jener gelehrte Mann weilt in der Welt des Soma, geehrt von den Gandharvas und von Scharen der Kinnaras und Apsaras, bis zur kosmischen Flut, die alle Wesen auflöst.

Word by Word

• somaloke: in the world of Soma (the lunar heaven)

• saḥ: he

• gandharvaiḥ: by the Gandharvas

• kiṃnara-apsarasām: of Kinnaras and Apsarases

• gaṇaiḥ: by groups/hosts

• pūjyamānaḥ: being honored/worshipped

• vased: would dwell/abides

• vidvān: the learned/wise person

• yāvat: until

• ābhūta-saṃplavam: the inundation/dissolution extending to all beings (universal pralaya)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Gandharvas
• Kinnaras
• Apsarases

Tags

• Pralaya
• Svarga
• Soma-loka
• Phala-shruti
• Afterlife

FAQs

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

It states that even exalted heavenly enjoyments in Soma-loka are temporary and last only until the universal dissolution (ābhūta-saṃplava), when all conditioned realms are withdrawn.

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

By praising the destiny of the vidvān (the learned), it implies that disciplined study, right conduct, and support of sacred learning are key duties; such dharmic living yields refined posthumous states, though still within impermanence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the phala (result) doctrine—proper dharma and sacred learning lead to honored residence in higher lokas, yet all rites remain within the cycle ending in pralaya.