Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

दिग्भिश् चैव विदिग्भिश् च नदीभिः सागरैस्तथा नक्षत्रैश्च मुहूर्तैश्च खेचरैश्च महाग्रहैः //

Transliteration

digbhiś caiva vidigbhiś ca nadībhiḥ sāgaraistathā nakṣatraiśca muhūrtaiśca khecaraiśca mahāgrahaiḥ //

Translation

—with the directions and the intermediate directions; with rivers and likewise with oceans; with the lunar mansions and the divisions of time (muhūrtas); and with the sky-moving bodies and the great planets.

Word by Word

• digbhiḥ: with the directions (quarters)

• ca eva: and indeed

• vidigbhiḥ: with the intermediate directions

• ca: and

• nadībhiḥ: with rivers

• sāgaraiḥ tathā: and likewise with oceans/seas

• nakṣatraiḥ: with the nakṣatras (lunar mansions/asterisms)

• ca: and

• muhūrtaiḥ: with muhūrtas (time-units, ~48 minutes)

• ca: and

• khecaraiḥ: with sky-goers (celestial bodies)

• ca: and

• mahāgrahaiḥ: with the great ग्रहs (major planets/seizers).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dig (Directions)
• Vidig (Intermediate directions)
• Nadi (Rivers)
• Sagara (Oceans)
• Nakshatra (Lunar mansions)
• Muhurta (Time-unit)
• Khechara (Celestial bodies)
• Mahagraha (Major planets)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Sacred Geography
• Jyotisha
• Kala (Time)
• Puranic Worldview

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly describe Pralaya; it catalogues the ordered framework of space (directions, rivers, oceans) and time (nakṣatras, muhūrtas) and celestial regulators (planets), which are the cosmic coordinates typically invoked when explaining creation’s structure and its periodic dissolution.

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

By foregrounding directions, time-units, and nakṣatras, the verse supports dharmic practice that depends on correct orientation and auspicious timing—key for a king’s public rites and a householder’s samskāras, donations, and daily worship scheduled by muhūrta and nakṣatra.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Vāstu and temple-ritual depend on dig-vidig orientation (layout aligned to cardinal/intercardinal directions) and on choosing proper muhūrta and nakṣatra; the verse supplies the canonical categories used when fixing site-orientation and ritual timing.