Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

प्राणरूपेण यो लोकान् पाति कृष्णमृगप्रियः वायुश्चन्द्रोपरागोत्थां पीडामत्र व्यपोहतु //

Transliteration

prāṇarūpeṇa yo lokān pāti kṛṣṇamṛgapriyaḥ vāyuścandroparāgotthāṃ pīḍāmatra vyapohatu //

Translation

May Vāyu—who, as the very form of prāṇa (life-breath), protects the worlds, and who is dear to the black antelope—here remove the affliction that has arisen from a lunar eclipse.

Word by Word

प्राण-रूपेणin the form of prāṇa (life-breath)

यःwho

लोकान्the worlds/creatures

पातिprotects

कृष्ण-मृग-प्रियःdear to the black antelope (kṛṣṇamṛga)

वायुःVāyu (Wind-god)

चन्द्र-उपराग-उत्थाम्arisen from the lunar eclipse

पीडाम्affliction, pain, distress

अत्रhere (in this rite/at this place)

व्यपोहतुmay (he) ward off/remove completely.

Speaker

Sūta (narrative voice) presenting a śānti-mantra within the Matsya Purana’s discourse (commonly framed as teachings ultimately attributed to Lord Matsya to Manu).

Entities Mentioned

VāyuPrāṇaCandra (Moon)Candroparāga (lunar eclipse)Kṛṣṇamṛga (black antelope)

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it reflects a Purāṇic cosmology where prāṇa (life-breath), identified with Vāyu, sustains the worlds and can be invoked to neutralize disruptive cosmic events like eclipses.

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

It supports the dharmic duty to maintain social and personal well-being through prescribed śānti rites—especially during ominous times (e.g., eclipses)—so that health, order, and auspiciousness are preserved.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a śānti-mantra: an invocation to Vāyu to remove candroparāga-janita pīḍā (eclipse-born affliction), aligning with Matsya Purana-style remedial recitations performed at a specific place (‘atra’).