Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

सर्वोपरि निसृष्टानि मण्डलानि तु तारकाः योजनार्धप्रमाणानि ताभ्यो ऽन्यानि गणानि तु //

Transliteration

sarvopari nisṛṣṭāni maṇḍalāni tu tārakāḥ yojanārdhapramāṇāni tābhyo 'nyāni gaṇāni tu //

Translation

Above all the other celestial regions are set the starry spheres (the constellational circles). Each is measured as half a yojana; and beyond them there are other groups of stars as well.

Word by Word

• sarvopari: above all, at the highest level

• nisṛṣṭāni: created, set in place, arranged

• maṇḍalāni: circles, spheres, orbs

• tu: indeed/and

• tārakāḥ: stars

• yojanārdha: half a yojana

• pramāṇāni: measures, dimensions

• tābhyaḥ: from/than those

• anyāni: other, additional

• gaṇāni: groups, clusters, hosts

• tu: also/indeed

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for Matsya Purana cosmology discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Tārakāḥ (stars)
• Maṇḍala (celestial sphere/orb)
• Yojana (unit of measure)
• Gaṇa (stellar group)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Astronomy
• Bhuvana-kosha
• Puranic measurements
• Tārakā-maṇḍala

FAQs

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

It describes cosmic arrangement (sṛṣṭi) rather than dissolution: stars are placed in the highest celestial circles, with specific traditional measures given in yojanas.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s worldview where righteous duty (dharma) is lived in harmony with an ordered cosmos; it is not a direct injunction about royal or household conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule appears here; its significance is cosmographic—providing a measured model of the heavens that later informs calendrical/ritual timing and traditional cosmology.