Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

देवादेवैर् अतीतास्तु रूपैर्नामभिरेव च तस्माद्वै साम्प्रतैर्देवैर् वक्ष्यामि वसुधातलम् //

Transliteration

devādevair atītāstu rūpairnāmabhireva ca tasmādvai sāmpratairdevair vakṣyāmi vasudhātalam //

Translation

The gods of former times have passed away—along with their forms and even their names. Therefore, I shall now describe the surface of the earth in relation to the gods of the present age.

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods

• devaiḥ: by/with the gods (instrumental, here implying ‘those gods’)

• atītāḥ: gone by, passed away

• tu: indeed/but

• rūpaiḥ: with forms/manifestations

• nāmabhiḥ: with names

• eva ca: even and also

• tasmāt: therefore

• vai: indeed

• sāmprataiḥ: belonging to the present time, current

• devaiḥ: with the present gods/as per the present gods

• vakṣyāmi: I shall declare, I will explain

• vasudhā-talam: the earth’s surface, the terrestrial plane.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Vasudhā (Earth)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Devas
• Temporal cycles
• Puranic geography
• Bhūmaṇḍala

FAQs

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

It implies cyclical time: divine orders change across epochs, so earlier gods (their names and forms) pass away and a present set becomes relevant—an idea closely tied to recurring cosmic dissolutions and renewals.

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

By stressing the ‘present order’ of gods, it hints that dharma and ritual observances should be aligned with the currently prevailing cosmic administration—kings and householders uphold social and ritual order according to the living tradition of their time.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Indirectly, it signals that ritual frameworks (deity-names, forms, and invocations) can be time-specific; in temple worship and iconography, one should follow the currently authoritative deity-forms and liturgical conventions when mapping sacred space onto the earth.