Shloka 35

Matsya Purana — Narasimha’s Victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Catalogue of Apocalyptic Omens

Devanagari script

अयोगतश्चाप्यचरन् मार्गं निशि निशाचरः सग्रहः सह नक्षत्रैर् आकापतिररिंदमः //

Transliteration

ayogataścāpyacaran mārgaṃ niśi niśācaraḥ sagrahaḥ saha nakṣatrair ākāpatirariṃdamaḥ //

Translation

And the night-wanderer (the Moon), moving out of due order, traversed its path by night—together with the planets and the constellations—O subduer of foes.

Word by Word

• ayogataḥ: irregularly, out of proper conjunction/order

• ca api: and also

• acaran: moved, proceeded

• mārgaṃ: along the course/path (in the sky)

• niśi: at night

• niśācaraḥ: the night-wanderer (commonly the Moon)

• sa-grahaḥ: together with the planets

• saha: along with

• nakṣatraiḥ: the lunar mansions/constellations

• ākāpatīḥ: in the sky/through the firmament (prob. ā-kāśa-pati/ākāśa-gati sense, “sky-going”)

• ariṃdamaḥ: O crusher of enemies (vocative epithet to the addressed listener, likely Manu/king).

Speaker

• Suta/primary narrator describing ominous celestial disorder within the Matsya Purana’s portents narrative (addressing a kingly listener with 'ariṃdama')

Entities Mentioned

• Moon (Niśācara)
• Grahas (planets)
• Nakṣatras (constellations)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Omens
• Jyotisha
• CosmicDisorder
• PuranicNarrative

FAQs

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

It presents a classic pralaya-omen: the Moon, planets, and constellations move irregularly, signaling breakdown of cosmic order that often precedes dissolution or major upheaval in Puranic narratives.

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

By framing celestial irregularities as meaningful omens, it implies that a ruler should heed nimittas (portents), consult learned astrologers, and undertake protective rites and prudent governance when cosmic disorder is observed.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is nimitta-śānti—propitiatory rites performed when grahas and nakṣatras behave abnormally, a common Purāṇic response to avert calamity.