Shloka 39

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

वेतालयक्षोरगकिंनराणां पद्मेन चैकेन तथार्बुदेन लक्षैस् त्रिभिर् द्वादशभी रथानां सोमो ऽप्यगात्तत्र विवृद्धमन्युः //

Transliteration

vetālayakṣoragakiṃnarāṇāṃ padmena caikena tathārbudena lakṣais tribhir dvādaśabhī rathānāṃ somo 'pyagāttatra vivṛddhamanyuḥ //

Translation

With one padma and one arbuda of Vetālas, Yakṣas, Nāgas, and Kiṃnaras—and with three lakṣas and twelve ratha-units besides—Soma too went there, his wrath greatly inflamed.

Word by Word

• vetāla: vetāla-spirits (ghoulish attendants)

• yakṣa: yakṣa beings/treasure-guardians

• uraga: serpent beings (nāgas)

• kiṃnara: kiṃnara celestial musicians

• -āṇām: of (genitive plural)

• padmena: by/with a padma (a very large numerical unit)

• ca: and

• ekena: with one

• tathā: likewise/also

• arbudena: by/with an arbuda (a large numerical unit)

• lakṣaiḥ: with lakṣas (hundred-thousands)

• tribhiḥ: with three

• dvādaśabhīḥ: with twelve

• rathānām: of ratha-units/chariots (a counted military unit)

• somaḥ: Soma (Moon-god/King Soma)

• api: also/too

• agāt: went/advanced

• tatra: there

• vivṛddha: increased/swollen

• manyuḥ: anger/wrath

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing events within the dynastic narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Vetālas
• Yakṣas
• Uraga (Nāgas)
• Kiṃnaras

Tags

• Dynasties
• Puranic Warfare
• Supernatural Hosts
• Devas
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a dynastic-war narrative where Soma advances with vast, semi-divine forces, emphasizing scale and divine involvement rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic idea that rulers marshal organized forces (ratha-units and allied hosts) and that anger (manyu) can drive political conflict—serving as a caution that royal action should be governed by dharma rather than inflamed wrath.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; the technical interest is numerical/military cataloging (padma, arbuda, lakṣa, ratha) used to convey the magnitude of an army.