Shloka 77

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

उत्तरक्रमणे ऽर्कस्य दिवा मन्दगतिः स्मृता तस्यैव तु पुनर्नक्तं शीघ्रा सूर्यस्य वै गतिः //

Transliteration

uttarakramaṇe 'rkasya divā mandagatiḥ smṛtā tasyaiva tu punarnaktaṃ śīghrā sūryasya vai gatiḥ //

Translation

When the Sun proceeds on its northward course (uttarāyaṇa), its movement by day is said to be slow; but that very Sun’s motion at night is indeed swift.

Word by Word

• uttarakramaṇe: in the northward progression (uttarāyaṇa)

• arkasya: of the Sun

• divā: by day

• manda-gatiḥ: slow गति (movement)

• smṛtā: is remembered/declared

• tasya eva: of that very (Sun)

• tu: but

• punaḥ: again/whereas

• naktam: at night

• śīghrā: swift/rapid

• sūryasya: of the Sun

• vai: indeed/certainly

• gatiḥ: movement/course

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s didactic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Sun)
• Arka

Tags

• Jyotisha
• Uttarayana
• Solar motion
• Day-night
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s cosmological/astronomical instruction, explaining how the Sun’s perceived course differs by day and night during the northward passage.

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

By grounding time-reckoning in celestial observation, it supports correct scheduling of daily duties and public rites—useful for householders’ nitya-karma timing and for kings overseeing calendrical order, festivals, and ritual observances aligned with uttarāyaṇa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, uttarāyaṇa is a key seasonal marker used to time yajñas, dāna, vrata, and other observances; architecturally, such solar knowledge informs temple orientation and calendrical festival planning, though no direct Vāstu rule is stated in this verse.