Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

तमांसि नैशानि द्रुतं निहत्य ज्योत्स्नावितानेन जगद्वितत्य खे रोहिणीं तां च प्रियां समेत्य चन्द्रः प्रभाभिः कुरुते ऽधिराज्यम् //

Transliteration

tamāṃsi naiśāni drutaṃ nihatya jyotsnāvitānena jagadvitatya khe rohiṇīṃ tāṃ ca priyāṃ sametya candraḥ prabhābhiḥ kurute 'dhirājyam //

Translation

Swiftly destroying the darkness of night and spreading a canopy of moonlight across the world, the Moon—having met in the sky his beloved Rohiṇī—establishes his sovereign rule through his radiance.

Word by Word

• tamāṃsi: darknesses

• naiśāni: of the night, nocturnal

• drutam: swiftly

• nihatya: having struck down, having dispelled

• jyotsnā-vitānena: by a canopy/expanse of moonlight

• jagat-vitatya: having spread/extended over the world

• khe: in the sky

• rohiṇīm: Rohiṇī (lunar mansion/personified beloved of the Moon)

• tām: her

• ca: and

• priyām: beloved

• sametya: having met, having joined

• candraḥ: the Moon

• prabhābhiḥ: by (his) splendors/rays

• kurute: makes, establishes

• adhirājyam: overlordship, sovereign dominion

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing cosmic/celestial order within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Candra (Moon)
• Rohiṇī

Tags

• Cosmology
• Jyotisha
• Moon
• Nakshatra
• Puranic Poetics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it presents the orderly cosmic rhythm where the Moon dispels nocturnal darkness, highlighting sustained cosmic governance rather than dissolution.

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

By analogy, a righteous ruler or householder should ‘dispel darkness’ (ignorance, disorder) and establish well-being through steady beneficence—like the Moon spreading cooling light and maintaining gentle sovereignty.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; however, the imagery of a ‘canopy of light’ (jyotsnā-vitāna) aligns with ritual aesthetics of illumination and auspicious night-time observances associated with lunar influence.