Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Architecture of Sun–Moon and the ‘Houses of the Gods’

Devanagari script

प्रभा सौरी तु पादेन अस्तं याति दिवाकरे अग्निमाविशते रात्रौ तस्मादग्निः प्रकाशते //

Transliteration

prabhā saurī tu pādena astaṃ yāti divākare agnimāviśate rātrau tasmādagniḥ prakāśate //

Translation

The sun’s radiance, as though with a single step, goes to its setting when the solar disc declines; at night it enters into fire—therefore fire shines forth (in the darkness).

Word by Word

• प्रभा (prabhā): radiance, light

• सौरी (saurī): belonging to the Sun, solar

• तु (tu): indeed, but

• पादेन (pādena): with a step, by a single step (figuratively: swiftly/partially)

• अस्तं (astaṃ): to setting, to disappearance

• याति (yāti): goes

• दिवाकरे (divākare): in/when the Sun, the day-maker

• अग्निम् (agnim): into fire

• आविशते (āviśate): enters, pervades

• रात्रौ (rātrau): at night

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• अग्निः (agniḥ): fire

• प्रकाशते (prakāśate): shines, becomes luminous.

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya (instructor) addressing Vaivasvata Manu in an explanatory cosmological passage

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Divākara (Sun)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Tejas
• Agni
• Night
• Light theory

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it offers a Purāṇic cosmological account of how solar tejas (radiance) is said to withdraw at sunset and manifest through Agni at night.

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

Indirectly, it supports the householder’s nightly reliance on sacred fire—maintaining Agni for light and rites—by grounding Agni’s luminosity in a cosmic principle tied to the Sun’s radiance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it reinforces the primacy of Agni in night-time worship and domestic rites (homa, dīpa/illumination), implying that fire/light is the proper medium for nocturnal observances.