Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

धृतिस् त्यक्त्वा पीतं नन्दिं सोममेवाभजंस्तदा स्वकीया इव सोमो ऽपि कामयामास तास्तदा //

Transliteration

dhṛtis tyaktvā pītaṃ nandiṃ somamevābhajaṃstadā svakīyā iva somo 'pi kāmayāmāsa tāstadā //

Translation

Casting off restraint, they then turned to Soma alone, having drunk the exhilarating sacred draught; and Soma too, as though they were his own, desired those women at that time.

Word by Word

• धृतिम् (dhṛtim): restraint/steadfastness

• त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā): having abandoned

• पीतम् (pītam): having drunk

• नन्दिम् (nandim): joy/exhilaration (also read as a gladdening draught)

• सोमम् (somam): Soma, the Moon-god

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• अभजन् (abhajan): they resorted to/served/turned toward

• तदा (tadā): then/at that time

• स्वकीया इव (svakīyā iva): as if (they were) his own

• सोमः अपि (somo 'pi): Soma also

• कामयामास (kāmayāmāsa): desired/longed for

• ताः (tāḥ): them (those women)

• तदा (tadā): then.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Purāṇic history to the sages), within the Matsya Purana’s narrative flow

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Chandra)

Tags

• Chandra
• Desire
• Mythic narrative
• Genealogy
• Lunar tradition

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it belongs to a mythic-genealogical narrative centered on Soma and the dynamics of desire and restraint.

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

By highlighting the abandonment of dhṛti (restraint) and the arising of kāma (desire), it functions as an ethical warning: self-control is foundational for householders and rulers, whose lapses can lead to disorder and transgression.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the only ritual-adjacent term is “Soma,” which can imply a sacred drink, but the verse primarily emphasizes desire rather than procedure.