Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — Planetary Chariots

Devanagari script

परियान्ति सुरश्रेष्ठं मेढीभूतं ध्रुवं दिवि आग्नीध्रकाश्यपानां तु तेषां स परमो ध्रुवः //

Transliteration

pariyānti suraśreṣṭhaṃ meḍhībhūtaṃ dhruvaṃ divi āgnīdhrakāśyapānāṃ tu teṣāṃ sa paramo dhruvaḥ //

Translation

In heaven, the foremost of the gods move in their courses around Dhruva, who stands fixed like the pivot-post. For the lines of Agnīdhra and Kaśyapa, he is indeed the supreme Dhruva—the highest, unmoving pole.

Word by Word

pariyāntimove around, revolve

sura-śreṣṭhamthe best/foremost among the gods

meḍhī-bhūtambecome the pivot, serving as the central post

dhruvamDhruva/the fixed one

diviin heaven

āgnīdhra-kāśyapānāmof the descendants/lineages connected with Agnīdhra and Kaśyapa

tuindeed/but

teṣāmfor them/of them

saḥhe (Dhruva)

paramaḥsupreme, highest

dhruvaḥthe Pole (the steadfast one)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing cosmology within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

DhruvaKaśyapaAgnīdhraSuras (gods)

FAQs

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

Rather than Pralaya, this verse emphasizes cosmic order: Dhruva is portrayed as the fixed pivot around which divine movements proceed, symbolizing stability in the structured universe.

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

By presenting Dhruva as the unmoving center, the verse implicitly models dharma as steadfastness—kings and householders should remain ‘dhruva’ (firm) in duty while society ‘revolves’ through changing circumstances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The image of Dhruva as a meḍhī (pivot-post) parallels the Vastu idea of a fixed axis/center (like a temple’s brahmasthāna), reinforcing the principle that sacred design and ritual space should have a stable central orientation.