Shloka 43

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

मौहूर्तिकी गतिर्ह्येषा सूर्यस्य तु विधीयते एतेन क्रमयोगेण यदा काष्ठां तु दक्षिणाम् //

Transliteration

mauhūrtikī gatirhyeṣā sūryasya tu vidhīyate etena kramayogeṇa yadā kāṣṭhāṃ tu dakṣiṇām //

Translation

This is what is prescribed as the Sun’s mauhūrtikī movement—its motion measured by muhūrtas. By this method of successive order, one determines when it reaches the southern kāṣṭhā (the southern limit/declination).

Word by Word

• मौहूर्तिकी: measured in muhūrtas, pertaining to muhūrta-time

• गतिः: motion, course

• हि: indeed

• एषा: this

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun

• तु: and/indeed

• विधीयते: is prescribed, is laid down

• एतेन: by this (method)

• क्रम-योगेण: by sequential procedure, by ordered computation

• यदा: when

• काष्ठाम्: the limit/point (also a time/astronomical term)

• तु: indeed

• दक्षिणाम्: southern, toward the south (southern course/declination).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s jyotiṣa-style instruction (traditionally within the Matsya–Manu dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (the Sun)

Tags

• Jyotisha
• Kalaganana
• Solar motion
• Muhūrta
• Ritual timing

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to technical time-reckoning, defining the Sun’s motion in muhūrta-units and how to compute its southern limit.

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

It supports dharmic practice indirectly: correct computation of time and the Sun’s course helps fix auspicious/appropriate timings for royal duties, household rites, and public rituals aligned with calendrical order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it underpins muhurta-selection (choosing proper times) by tracking solar movement; such calculations are often used to time consecrations, vrata observances, and other ceremonies that depend on the Sun’s southern/northern course.