Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

रथ्यासु चन्द्रोदयभासितासु सुरेन्द्रमार्गेषु च विस्तृतेषु दैत्याङ्गना यूथगता विभान्ति तारा यथा चन्द्रमसो दिवान्ते //

Transliteration

rathyāsu candrodayabhāsitāsu surendramārgeṣu ca vistṛteṣu daityāṅganā yūthagatā vibhānti tārā yathā candramaso divānte //

Translation

On streets lit by the rising moon, and along broad avenues fit for Indra himself, the women of the Daityas, moving in groups, shine forth—like stars appearing around the moon at the close of day.

Word by Word

• रथ्यासु (rathyāsu): in the streets

• चन्द्रोदय-भासितासु (candrodaya-bhāsitāsu): illuminated by moonrise

• सुरेन्द्र-मार्गेषु (surendra-mārgeṣu): on avenues/royal roads worthy of the lord of the gods (Indra)

• च (ca): and

• विस्तृतेषु (vistṛteṣu): broad, expansive

• दैत्य-अङ्गना (daitya-aṅganā): Daitya women

• यूथ-गता (yūtha-gatā): gone in groups, moving in clusters

• विभान्ति (vibhānti): shine, appear splendid

• तारा (tārā): stars

• यथा (yathā): like

• चन्द्रमसः (candramasaḥ): of the moon/around the moon

• दिवा-अन्ते (divānte): at day’s end, at dusk.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s urban/courtly description

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Surendra)
• Daityas (Daitya women)
• Moon (Chandra)
• Stars (Tara)

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• City avenues
• Royal roads
• Poetic simile
• Courtly description

FAQs

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

Nothing directly about Pralaya appears here; the verse is a descriptive tableau of moonlit streets and splendid public avenues, emphasizing urban grandeur rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports the king’s duty to maintain well-laid, broad public roads and safe, illuminated streets—features associated with orderly governance, prosperity, and dignified civic life in Purāṇic ideals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights wide, processional ‘surendra-mārga’ avenues and organized streets (rathyā), aligning with Vastu-oriented ideals of spacious thoroughfares used for royal movement, festivals, and civic circulation.