Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

तद्दिशो जगृहुर्धाम स्त्रीरूपेण सुतेच्छया गर्भो भूत्वोदरे तासाम् आस्थितो ऽब्दशतत्रयम् //

Transliteration

taddiśo jagṛhurdhāma strīrūpeṇa sutecchayā garbho bhūtvodare tāsām āsthito 'bdaśatatrayam //

Translation

Then, from those regions, a divine being assumed a woman’s form out of the desire for offspring; becoming an embryo, it remained established in their womb for three hundred years.

Word by Word

• tad-diśaḥ: those directions/regions

• jagṛhuḥ: took up/assumed

• dhāma: a divine being, sacred presence, splendour

• strī-rūpeṇa: in the form of a woman

• suta-icchayā: from the desire for a child/offspring

• garbhaḥ bhūtvā: having become an embryo

• udare: in the belly/womb

• tāsām: of those (women)

• āsthitaḥ: remained settled/abiding

• abda-śata-trayam: three hundred years

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual narration style of Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya Purana
• Vishnu (implied by dhāma as a divine presence)
• Women/Mothers (tāsām)
• Embryo (garbha)

Tags

• Mythic Birth
• Manvantara Lore
• Genealogy Motif
• Divine Incarnation
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly describe Pralaya; it highlights a mythic conception motif where a divine presence enters the womb and remains for an extraordinary duration, typical of Purāṇic cosmological time scales.

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

Indirectly, it emphasizes the Purāṇic ideal of lineage and progeny (suta-icchā). In the broader Matsya Purana, continuity of dharma through righteous offspring and protected succession is a recurring ethical theme for rulers and householders.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse is narrative and focuses on divine embodiment and gestation rather than ritual procedure or building prescriptions.