Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां तु ग्रहाणां वै सूर्यो ऽधस्तात्प्रसर्पति विस्तीर्णं मण्डलं कृत्वा तस्योर्ध्वं चरते शशी //

Transliteration

sarveṣāṃ tu grahāṇāṃ vai sūryo 'dhastātprasarpati vistīrṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ kṛtvā tasyordhvaṃ carate śaśī //

Translation

Among all the heavenly bodies, the Sun moves below, spreading forth and forming a broad circular sphere (maṇḍala); above that solar sphere the Moon moves.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all

• तु: indeed/and

• ग्रहाणाम्: of the planets/heavenly bodies

• वै: verily

• सूर्यः: the Sun

• अधस्तात्: below/beneath

• प्रसर्पति: moves/glides

• विस्तीर्णम्: broad/expanded

• मण्डलम्: circle/orb/sphere

• कृत्वा: having made/creating

• तस्य: of that/its

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above

• चरते: moves/wanders

• शशी: the Moon

Speaker

• Sūta (purāṇic narrator) reporting the Matsya Purāṇa’s cosmological account

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Shashi (Chandra)
• Grahas

Tags

• Cosmology
• Jyotisha
• Graha-gati
• Surya
• Chandra

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it gives a cosmological mapping of celestial motion, placing the Sun’s sphere below and the Moon’s path above it.

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

By describing Sun–Moon movement, it supports calendrical and auspicious-time (muhūrta/tithi) reckoning used by kings and householders for governance, sacrifices, vows, and public rituals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Indirectly, it underpins ritual scheduling: temple worship, homa, and consecrations rely on lunar and solar calculations; the verse frames the Sun–Moon spheres that guide such timing.