Shloka 28

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

तथाप्यराजत विधुर् दशधा भावयन्दिशः सोमः प्राप्याथ दुष्प्राप्यम् ऐश्वर्यमृषिसंस्कृतम् सप्तलोकैकनाथत्वम् अवाप तपसा तदा //

Transliteration

tathāpyarājata vidhur daśadhā bhāvayandiśaḥ somaḥ prāpyātha duṣprāpyam aiśvaryamṛṣisaṃskṛtam saptalokaikanāthatvam avāpa tapasā tadā //

Translation

Even so, the Moon (Vidhu) shone forth, illuminating the directions tenfold; and Soma then attained that hard-to-attain sovereignty—sanctified by the sages—and by austerity won the status of sole lord over the seven worlds.

Word by Word

• tathāpi: even so/nevertheless

• arājata: shone/was resplendent

• vidhur (vidhuḥ): the Moon

• daśadhā: tenfold/in ten ways

• bhāvayan: causing to shine, pervading, manifesting

• diśaḥ: the directions

• somaḥ: Soma (Moon-deity)

• prāpya/ prāpya atha: having obtained/and then obtaining

• duṣprāpyam: difficult to obtain

• aiśvaryam: lordship, sovereignty, divine power

• ṛṣi-saṃskṛtam: consecrated/refined/approved by sages

• sapta-loka: the seven worlds

• eka-nāthatvam: sole lordship/being the single master

• avāpa: attained

• tapasā: by austerity/penance

• tadā: then/at that time.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing Soma’s attainment (within the Matsya Purana’s genealogical-cosmic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Vidhu
• Rishis
• Sapta-lokas

Tags

• Somavamsha
• Tapas
• Cosmic sovereignty
• Puranic genealogy
• Seven worlds

FAQs

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

This verse is not a Pralaya (dissolution) passage; it highlights cosmic order and hierarchy by stating that Soma, through tapas, attains sanctioned sovereignty over the seven worlds.

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

It presents a Purāṇic model of legitimate authority: rulership (aiśvarya) becomes stable when earned through discipline (tapas) and validated by the wise (ṛṣi-saṃskṛta), implying that ethical self-control and guidance from sages underpin righteous governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-building rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of tapas and sage-sanction (ṛṣi-saṃskṛta) as sources of spiritual legitimacy and cosmic rank.