Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

विभावर्यां सोमपुर्याम् उत्तिष्ठति विभावसुः महेन्द्रस्यामरावत्याम् उद्गच्छति दिवाकरः //

Transliteration

vibhāvaryāṃ somapuryām uttiṣṭhati vibhāvasuḥ mahendrasyāmarāvatyām udgacchati divākaraḥ //

Translation

In the night, in Somapurī, the Fire—Vibhāvasu—rises; and in Mahendra’s Amarāvatī, the Sun—Divākara—ascends.

Word by Word

विभावर्याम्in the night

सोमपुर्याम्in Somapurī (city of Soma/Moon)

उत्तिष्ठतिrises, stands up, becomes manifest

विभावसुःVibhāvasu (Fire/Agni)

महेन्द्रस्यof Mahendra (Indra)

अमरावत्याम्in Amarāvatī (city of the immortals

उद्गच्छतिgoes up, rises, ascends

दिवाकरःDivākara (the Sun, ‘maker of day’)

Speaker

Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a descriptive teaching on sacred/cosmic geography)

Entities Mentioned

SomaSomapurīAgni (Vibhāvasu)Mahendra (Indra)AmarāvatīSūrya (Divākara)

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it presents a cosmographic mapping of time (night/day) onto divine cities, emphasizing ordered cosmic functioning rather than dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic time-discipline: recognizing proper cycles of night and day underpins correct timing for rites, governance routines, and household observances aligned with cosmic order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it can be read as a cue for kala (proper time): fire offerings and sunrise rites depend on night/day transitions; architecturally, it contributes to the broader Puranic habit of orienting sacred space with solar movement (east-facing sanctums and dawn rituals).