Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Planetary Chariots

Devanagari script

युक्तेनाष्टाभिरश्वैश्च ध्वजैरग्निसमुद्भवैः अब्दं वसति यो राशौ स्वदिशं तेन गच्छति //

Transliteration

yuktenāṣṭābhiraśvaiśca dhvajairagnisamudbhavaiḥ abdaṃ vasati yo rāśau svadiśaṃ tena gacchati //

Translation

When the “year” abides in a zodiacal sign, furnished with eight horses and banners born of fire, one should proceed in the direction naturally associated with that sign.

Word by Word

• yuktena: equipped/ yoked

• aṣṭābhiḥ: with eight

• aśvaiḥ: horses

• ca: and

• dhvajaiḥ: with banners/standards

• agni-samudbhavaiḥ: arising from fire/ fiery in origin

• abdam: the year (as a personified cycle)

• vasati: resides/dwells

• yaḥ: which/that

• rāśau: in a rāśi (zodiac sign)

• sva-diśam: its own direction/appropriate direction

• tena: by that/according to it

• gacchati: one goes/should go.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Rashi (Zodiac sign)
• Abda (the Year)

Tags

• Matsya Purana astrology
• Rashi phala
• Directional omens
• Jyotisha
• Auspicious travel

FAQs

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

It does not discuss pralaya; it treats a Jyotiṣa-style omen in which the ‘year’ (abda) is personified and linked to a rāśi and its directional indication.

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

It supports practical dharma: rulers and householders are advised to align journeys, campaigns, or major undertakings with auspicious directional indications derived from the zodiacal placement of the year.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key significance is directional (diśā) selection—useful for ritual planning and site/orientation decisions—though the verse itself is primarily astrological rather than a direct Vāstu-śāstra building rule.