Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

परिगच्छति सूर्यो ऽसौ मासं काष्ठामुदग्दिनात् मध्येन पुष्करस्याथ भ्रमते दक्षिणायने //

Transliteration

parigacchati sūryo 'sau māsaṃ kāṣṭhāmudagdināt madhyena puṣkarasyātha bhramate dakṣiṇāyane //

Translation

From the eastern direction, that Sun traverses the (directional) quarter for a month; then, passing through the midst of Puṣkara, it turns and continues its circuit during the southern course (Dakṣiṇāyana).

Word by Word

परिगच्छतिtraverses, goes around

सूर्यःthe Sun

असौthat

मासम्for a month

काष्ठाम्a quarter/directional region

उदग्-दिनात्from the east (lit. from the ‘udag’/rising side, i.e., the direction of sunrise)

मध्येनthrough the middle/by way of

पुष्करस्यof Puṣkara (sacred place/region)

अथthen

भ्रमतेturns, revolves, continues its circuit

दक्षिणायनेin the southern solstitial course (Dakṣiṇāyana).

Speaker

Suta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s cosmological description (within the Matsya–Manu discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

Surya (Sun)PushkaraDakshinayana

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it maps the Sun’s monthly movement and its turning into Dakṣiṇāyana, part of the Purāṇic framework for cosmic time-order rather than dissolution.

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

By defining Dakṣiṇāyana and the Sun’s course, it supports dharmic calendrics—choosing proper seasons/months for royal rites, ancestral offerings (pitṛ-karmas), and household saṃskāras aligned with the ayanas.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, ayana-based timing guides festivals and śrāddha seasons; architecturally, directional awareness (kāṣṭhā) and solar movement inform orientation principles used in Matsya Purana–style Vastu planning (east-facing sanctums and light/solar considerations).