Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

चन्द्रतारार्कसंकाशम् अधिरुह्यानुजीविभिः सहैव यानमातिष्ठेत् तत्र विष्णुप्रचोदितः //

Transliteration

candratārārkasaṃkāśam adhiruhyānujīvibhiḥ sahaiva yānamātiṣṭhet tatra viṣṇupracoditaḥ //

Translation

Urged on by Viṣṇu, he should then board the conveyance—shining like the moon, the stars, and the sun—together with his attendants and dependents, and take his place there.

Word by Word

• चन्द्र (candra): moon

• तारा (tārā): stars

• अर्क (arka): sun

• संकाशम् (saṃkāśam): resembling, radiant like

• अधिरुह्य (adhiruhya): having mounted, boarding

• अनुजीविभिः (anujīvibhiḥ): with dependents/retainers, those who live by following him

• सह एव (saha eva): together indeed

• यानम् (yānam): vehicle, conveyance (here: the boat)

• आतिष्ठेत् (ātiṣṭhet): should take position/should board

• तत्र (tatra): there, in it

• विष्णु-प्रचोदितः (viṣṇu-pracoditaḥ): impelled/commanded by Viṣṇu.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (narrative voice within Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-Avatara
• Divine rescue
• Boat narrative
• Dharma of protection

FAQs

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

It depicts the practical moment of survival during Pralaya: by Viṣṇu’s command, Manu boards the divinely radiant boat, indicating divine orchestration and protection amid cosmic dissolution.

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

By emphasizing boarding “together with dependents,” the verse reflects the dharmic duty of a leader/householder to protect and carry along those under their care (retainers, followers, family) in times of danger, not seeking salvation alone.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a Vāstu rule, it has ritual-symbolic significance: the “vehicle/boat” functions as a divinely sanctioned refuge (a sacred conveyance), a motif often echoed in later ritual storytelling and iconography of Matsya guiding beings across catastrophe.