Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Brahmā–Gāyatrī as a Divine Pair and the Early Genealogies of Creation

Devanagari script

ददौ स दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश सप्तविंशतिं सोमाय ददौ नक्षत्रसंज्ञिताः देवासुरमनुष्यादि ताभ्यः सर्वमभूज्जगत् //

Transliteration

dadau sa daśa dharmāya kaśyapāya trayodaśa saptaviṃśatiṃ somāya dadau nakṣatrasaṃjñitāḥ devāsuramanuṣyādi tābhyaḥ sarvamabhūjjagat //

Translation

He gave ten (daughters) to Dharma, thirteen to Kaśyapa, and twenty-seven—known as the Nakṣatras—to Soma. From those unions arose the entire world, consisting of gods, demons (Asuras), humans, and the rest.

Word by Word

• ददौ (dadau): he gave (in marriage/bestowed)

• स (sa): he

• दश (daśa): ten

• धर्माय (dharmāya): to Dharma

• कश्यपाय (kaśyapāya): to Kaśyapa

• त्रयोदश (trayodaśa): thirteen

• सप्तविंशतिम् (saptaviṃśatim): twenty-seven

• सोमाय (somāya): to Soma (the Moon)

• ददौ (dadau): gave

• नक्षत्रसंज्ञिताः (nakṣatra-saṃjñitāḥ): called/known as the lunar mansions (Nakṣatras)

• देवासुरमनुष्यादि (devāsura-manuṣya-ādi): gods, demons, humans, etc.

• ताभ्यः (tābhyaḥ): from them/from those (wives/unions)

• सर्वम् (sarvam): all

• अभूत् (abhūt): came into being

• जगत् (jagat): the world/universe

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Purana’s cosmological genealogy; traditional frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharma
• Kashyapa
• Soma (Chandra)
• Nakshatras
• Devas
• Asuras
• Manushyas

Tags

• Creation
• Genealogy
• Nakshatras
• Cosmology
• Puranic Lineages

FAQs

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

This verse describes creation through lineage (prajā-sarga): by distributing daughters to Dharma, Kaśyapa, and Soma (as Nakṣatras), the world of devas, asuras, humans, and other beings is said to arise—an origin theme rather than a pralaya (dissolution) episode.

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

It presents the Purāṇic ideal of social-cosmic order maintained through lawful unions and lineage: a householder upholds dharma through sanctioned marriage and progeny, while a king protects that dharmic order that sustains society and the continuity of the world.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is calendrical—Nakṣatras linked to Soma underpin timing for rites (muhūrta), fasts, and ceremonies in later ritual practice.