Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

सोमः सूर्यो बुधश्चैव भार्गवश्चेति शीघ्रगाः यावन्ति चैव ऋक्षाणि कोट्यस्तावन्ति तारकाः //

Transliteration

somaḥ sūryo budhaścaiva bhārgavaśceti śīghragāḥ yāvanti caiva ṛkṣāṇi koṭyastāvanti tārakāḥ //

Translation

Soma (the Moon), the Sun, Budha (Mercury), and Bhārgava (Venus) are the swift-moving celestial bodies. And as many as the constellations (ṛkṣas) are, so many crores (koṭis) of stars (tārakās) there are.

Word by Word

• सोमः (somaḥ): the Moon

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ): the Sun

• बुधः (budhaḥ): Mercury

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• भार्गवः (bhārgavaḥ): Venus (of Śukra, descendant of Bhṛgu)

• इति (iti): thus/namely

• शीघ्रगाः (śīghragāḥ): swift-moving (celestial bodies)

• यावन्ति (yāvanti): as many as

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• ऋक्षाणि (ṛkṣāṇi): constellations/nakṣatras (lunar mansions)

• कोट्यः (koṭyaḥ): crores/ten-millions (as a count-unit)

• तावन्ति (tāvanti): that many

• तारकाः (tārakāḥ): stars

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu in an instructional, cosmological discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Moon)
• Surya (Sun)
• Budha (Mercury)
• Bhargava (Venus/Shukra)
• Riksha (Nakshatras/constellations)
• Tarakas (stars)

Tags

• Jyotisha
• Cosmology
• Grahas
• Nakshatras
• Puranic astronomy

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing Pralaya; it belongs to a cosmological-astronomical listing, emphasizing the ordered structure of the heavens (planets, constellations, and vast numbers of stars).

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through timekeeping: knowledge of grahas and nakṣatras underlies calendrics for rites, auspicious timings, and governance decisions—key practical supports for royal and household ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, graha–nakṣatra knowledge informs muhūrta selection for consecrations and ceremonies; architecturally, it can guide auspicious timing for temple building and prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā, though no specific Vāstu rule is stated in this verse.