Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

आदित्यमेति सोमाच्च पुनः सौरेषु पर्वसु स्वभासा तुदते यस्मात् स्वर्भानुरिति स स्मृतः //

Transliteration

ādityameti somācca punaḥ saureṣu parvasu svabhāsā tudate yasmāt svarbhānuriti sa smṛtaḥ //

Translation

He approaches the Sun and again the Moon at the Sun’s parvans, the solar turning-points; and because he strikes (afflicts) them by his own radiance, he is remembered as Svarbhānu.

Word by Word

• ādityam: the Sun

• eti: goes/approaches

• somāt ca: and from/with the Moon also

• punaḥ: again

• saureṣu parvasu: at the solar parvans/solar nodes or turning-points (astronomical junctions)

• sva-bhāsā: by his own light/splendour

• tudate: pierces, strikes, afflicts

• yasmāt: because

• svarbhānuḥ: Svarbhānu (eclipse-demon, identified with Rāhu in Purāṇic astronomy)

• iti: thus

• saḥ: he

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/called.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana’s teaching dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Āditya (Sun)
• Soma (Moon)
• Svarbhānu (Rāhu)

Tags

• Grahas
• Eclipses
• Rāhu
• Jyotiṣa
• Purāṇic cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it explains an astral phenomenon—how Svarbhānu (Rāhu) periodically afflicts the Sun and Moon, i.e., the Purāṇic framing of eclipses.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic timekeeping: knowing eclipse-causing junctions (parvans) helps kings and householders schedule rites (snāna, dāna, śrāddha, vrata) and observe ritual cautions associated with graha-afflictions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural rules are not stated here; the ritual takeaway is that eclipses are tied to specific solar junctions (saureṣu parvasu), which are traditionally treated as potent times for purification and charitable giving.