Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Planetary Chariots

Devanagari script

यदह्ना कुरुते पापं तं दृष्ट्वा निशि मुञ्चति शिशुमारशरीरस्था यावत्यस्तारकास्तु ताः //

Transliteration

yadahnā kurute pāpaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā niśi muñcati śiśumāraśarīrasthā yāvatyastārakāstu tāḥ //

Translation

Whatever sin a person commits by day, upon beholding it at night he is released from that sin—so far as the stars that abide within the body of the Śiśumāra (the celestial ‘dolphin’ formation) bear witness to it.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever

• ahnā: by day

• kurute: commits/does

• pāpam: sin

• tam: that (sin)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen/after beholding

• niśi: at night

• muñcati: releases (one)/sets free

• śiśumāra-śarīra-sthāḥ: situated in the body-form of Śiśumāra (celestial configuration)

• yāvatyaḥ: as many as/so far as

• tārakāḥ: stars

• tu: indeed

• tāḥ: those

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating Purāṇic teaching on sacred cosmology; often framed as instruction ultimately traceable to divine discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiśumāra
• Tārakāḥ (stars)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Sacred Astronomy
• Darśana
• Dharma
• Puranic Cosmology

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it presents a cosmological-sacral view of the heavens: the ordered star-body (Śiśumāra) functions as a purifying sacred structure, reflecting the Purāṇic idea that cosmic order endures through cycles of creation and dissolution.

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

It supports daily dharma through expiation: a householder (and by extension a king responsible for public morality) is taught that disciplined nightly remembrance/darśana of sacred cosmic forms is a means to counteract moral lapses and maintain purity of conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes darśana (sacred viewing) as a purificatory act; while not a Vāstu rule, it parallels temple practice where visual alignment with sanctifying forms (deity, yantra, or cosmic diagram) is treated as spiritually efficacious.