Shloka 45

Matsya Purana — Solar Dynasty Prelude: Vivasvān–Saṃjñā–Chāyā

Devanagari script

रमते यत्र देवेशः शम्भुः सोमार्धशेखरः उमया समयस्तत्र पुरा शरवणे कृतः //

Transliteration

ramate yatra deveśaḥ śambhuḥ somārdhaśekharaḥ umayā samayastatra purā śaravaṇe kṛtaḥ //

Translation

There, in that place, the Lord of the gods—Śambhu, whose crest is adorned with the half-moon—takes delight; for long ago, in the Śaravaṇa grove, an appointed meeting was agreed upon there with Umā.

Word by Word

रमते (ramate)delights, sports

यत्र (yatra)where

देवेशः (deveśaḥ)Lord of the gods

शम्भुः (śambhuḥ)Śiva, the auspicious one

सोमार्धशेखरः (somārdha-śekharaḥ)he who bears the half-moon as a crest

उमया (umayā)with Umā (Pārvatī)

समयः (samayaḥ)agreement, appointed time, tryst

तत्र (tatra)there

पुरा (purā)formerly, long ago

शरवणे (śaravaṇe)in the Śaravaṇa grove (a sacred woodland)

कृतः (kṛtaḥ)was made, was arranged.

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing a sacred site and its mythic significance

Entities Mentioned

Śambhu (Śiva)Umā (Pārvatī)Soma (the Moon)Śaravaṇa (sacred grove)

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it functions as tīrtha/kshetra praise, grounding a place’s sanctity in the divine presence and a mythic event involving Śiva and Umā.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ethic of honoring sacred places and divine narratives—encouraging rulers and householders to uphold pilgrimage, patronage, and reverence for kṣetras associated with the gods.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse signals a site-marker: a location sanctified by Śiva’s sportive presence and a divine ‘samaya.’ Such kṣetra-legends commonly justify ritual worship and later temple establishment at that spot, guiding sacred site selection.