Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

सौरश्चाङ्गिरसो वक्रो विज्ञेया मन्दचारिणः तेभ्यो ऽधस्तात्तु चत्वारः पुनश्चान्ये महाग्रहाः //

Transliteration

sauraścāṅgiraso vakro vijñeyā mandacāriṇaḥ tebhyo 'dhastāttu catvāraḥ punaścānye mahāgrahāḥ //

Translation

Saura and Āṅgirasa, and Vakra as well, are to be understood as slow-moving planets. Below them, however, there are again four other great planets, and then other great planets besides.

Word by Word

• सौरः (sauraḥ): Saura (a graha associated with the Sun/Saturn tradition)

• च (ca): and

• आङ्गिरसः (āṅgirasaḥ): Āṅgirasa (Bṛhaspati/Jupiter, of the lineage of Aṅgiras)

• वक्रः (vakraḥ): Vakra (“the retrograde/curving one,” a graha moving with apparent retrogression)

• विज्ञेयाः (vijñeyāḥ): are to be known/understood

• मन्द-चारिणः (manda-cāriṇaḥ): slow-moving

• तेभ्यः (tebhyaḥ): from/than them

• अधस्तात् (adhastāt): below

• तु (tu): however

• चत्वारः (catvāraḥ): four

• पुनः (punaḥ): again/further

• च (ca): and

• अन्ये (anye): others

• महा-ग्रहाः (mahā-grahāḥ): great planets (major grahas).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Saura (Graha)
• Āṅgirasa (Bṛhaspati/Jupiter)
• Vakra (retrograde-moving Graha)
• Mahāgrahas (major planets)

Tags

• Jyotisha
• Grahas
• Cosmology
• Planetary motion
• Matsya Purana astronomy

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it belongs to a cosmological–astronomical description that orders the grahas by position and motion, a framework often used in Purāṇas to describe the structured universe that persists across cycles.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through timekeeping: knowing the grahas and their motions underpins calendrical reckoning (tithi, nakṣatra, muhūrta) used by kings and householders for state rituals, yajñas, consecrations, and other dharmic observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse itself is not about Vāstu, but graha-order and planetary motion are used in ritual planning—selecting auspicious timings and, in some traditions, aligning temple and altar rites with celestial calculations derived from Jyotiṣa.