Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं स्थानं तृतीयं तु तमोमयम् आदित्यात्स तु निष्क्रम्य सोमं गच्छति पर्वसु //

Transliteration

brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ sthānaṃ tṛtīyaṃ tu tamomayam ādityātsa tu niṣkramya somaṃ gacchati parvasu //

Translation

The third station—fashioned by Brahmā—is of the nature of darkness. Departing from the Sun, he proceeds to the Moon at the parvans, the lunar junctions.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• निर्मितम् (nirmitam): constructed/created

• स्थानम् (sthānam): station, abode, locus

• तृतीयम् (tṛtīyam): the third

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• तमोमयम् (tamomayam): consisting of darkness, of the nature of tamas

• आदित्यात् (ādityāt): from the Sun (Āditya)

• सः (saḥ): he/it

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• निष्क्रम्य (niṣkramya): having gone out, departing

• सोमम् (somam): the Moon (Soma)

• गच्छति (gacchati): goes, proceeds

• पर्वसु (parvasu): at the parvans, lunar nodes/junction days (e.g., new/full moon and transitional points).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (cosmological instruction context)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma
• Aditya (Sun)
• Soma (Moon)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Lokas
• Sun-Moon
• Tamas
• Parvan

FAQs

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

It is primarily cosmological rather than pralaya-focused: it describes a Brahmā-created “third station” characterized by tamas (darkness) and a cyclic transition from the Sun toward the Moon at parvan junctions—imagery often used to map cosmic order rather than dissolution.

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

By highlighting parvan junctions as significant transition points, it indirectly supports dharmic timekeeping: kings and householders schedule vows, gifts, ancestral rites, and observances around lunar junctions (parvans), aligning social duty with cosmic rhythm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, “parvan” is a key calendrical marker for ceremonies tied to the Moon’s phases (notably new/full moon and junction observances). Architecturally (Vastu), the verse is not prescriptive, but it contributes to the broader Matsya Purana habit of grounding ritual timing in cosmic movements.