Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

नवयोजनसाहस्रो विष्कम्भः सवितुः स्मृतः मण्डलं त्रिगुणं चास्य विस्तारो भास्करस्य तु //

Transliteration

navayojanasāhasro viṣkambhaḥ savituḥ smṛtaḥ maṇḍalaṃ triguṇaṃ cāsya vistāro bhāskarasya tu //

Translation

The diameter of Savitṛ (the Sun) is said to be nine thousand yojanas; and the Sun’s circular disc is three times that measure in its extent.

Word by Word

• nava: nine

• yojana-sāhasraḥ: thousands of yojanas

• viṣkambhaḥ: diameter (breadth across)

• savituḥ: of Savitṛ/the Sun

• smṛtaḥ: is stated/remembered in tradition

• maṇḍalam: the disc/orb

• triguṇam: threefold/three times

• ca: and

• asya: of it/of him

• vistāraḥ: extent/expanse

• bhāskarasya: of Bhāskara (the Sun)

• tu: indeed/for emphasis

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Savitṛ
• Bhāskara
• Sūrya (Sun)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Astronomy
• Puranic measurements
• Yojana
• Surya-mandala

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it gives a cosmographic measurement of the Sun (Savitṛ/Bhāskara) using yojanas, reflecting the Purana’s ordered structure of the cosmos.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Matsya Purana’s ideal of dharmic governance and household life grounded in right knowledge: understanding cosmic order (ṛta) is presented as part of traditional learning that underpins disciplined ritual life and righteous rule.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a Vāstu rule itself, the verse’s emphasis on exact proportion and measure parallels Vāstu-śāstra thinking; such cosmological measurements also inform ritual imagination of the solar disc (sūrya-maṇḍala) in worship and calendrical computation.