Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रदैत्यासुरसैन्ययुक्तः शनैश्चराङ्गारकवृद्धतेजाः जग्मुर्भयं सप्त तथैव लोकाश् चचाल भूर् द्वीपसमुद्रगर्भा //

Transliteration

nakṣatradaityāsurasainyayuktaḥ śanaiścarāṅgārakavṛddhatejāḥ jagmurbhayaṃ sapta tathaiva lokāś cacāla bhūr dvīpasamudragarbhā //

Translation

Joined with the hosts of the Nakṣatras, Daityas, and Asuras, Śanaiścara (Saturn) and Aṅgāraka (Mars) blazed with intensified radiance. Fear seized the seven worlds, and the earth—bearing within it islands and oceans—began to quake and heave.

Word by Word

• नक्षत्र (nakṣatra): lunar mansions/constellations

• दैत्य (daitya): Daitya demons (sons of Diti)

• असुर (asura): Asuras (anti-gods/demonic powers)

• सैन्ययुक्तः (sainyayuktaḥ): united with an army/host

• शनैश्चर (śanaiścara): Saturn

• अङ्गारक (aṅgāraka): Mars

• वृद्धतेजाः (vṛddhatejāḥ): of increased brilliance/power

• जग्मुः (jagmuḥ): went/entered into

• भयं (bhayaṃ): fear/terror

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• लोकाः (lokāḥ): worlds/planes of existence

• चचाल (cacāla): shook/trembled

• भूः (bhūḥ): the earth

• द्वीप (dvīpa): islands/continents

• समुद्र (samudra): oceans/seas

• गर्भा (garbhā): containing/holding within

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the portents within the Matsya Purana’s pralaya-omen sequence

Entities Mentioned

• Nakṣatras
• Daityas
• Asuras
• Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• Aṅgāraka (Mars)
• Sapta Lokas (seven worlds)
• Bhū (Earth)
• Dvīpas
• Samudras

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Omens
• Graha-Portents
• Asura-Forces
• Earthquakes

FAQs

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

It presents pralaya-like portents: hostile cosmic forces and intensified planetary energies (Saturn and Mars) trigger fear across the seven worlds and physical instability of the earth—classic signs of approaching large-scale upheaval.

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

Such inauspicious graha-omens imply heightened vigilance: rulers should intensify protection and ritual appeasements, while householders should follow dharmic restraint, charity, and protective rites rather than beginning risky new ventures under feared planetary conditions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Though not giving direct Vāstu rules, it signals a ritual principle used in Vāstu and temple practice: avoid major constructions and consecrations during severe inauspicious omens; instead perform śānti (pacificatory) rites for grahas and bhūmi (earth) to restore stability.