Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

तेषु संवत्सरो ह्यग्निः सूर्यस्तु परिवत्सरः सोमस् त्विड्वत्सरश् चैव वायुश्चैवानुवत्सरः //

Transliteration

teṣu saṃvatsaro hyagniḥ sūryastu parivatsaraḥ somas tviḍvatsaraś caiva vāyuścaivānuvatsaraḥ //

Translation

Among these (five divisions of the year-cycle), the Saṃvatsara is Agni (Fire); the Parivatsara is the Sun; the Iḍvatsara is Soma (the Moon); and the Anuvatsara is Vāyu (Wind).

Word by Word

• teṣu: among these

• saṃvatsaraḥ: the year named Saṃvatsara (one division of the five-year cycle)

• hi: indeed

• agniḥ: Agni, the fire-deity

• sūryaḥ: Sūrya, the Sun

• tu: and/indeed

• parivatsaraḥ: the year named Parivatsara

• somaḥ: Soma, the Moon

• iḍvatsaraḥ: the year named Iḍvatsara (also read Idvatsara)

• ca eva: and indeed

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu, the wind-deity

• ca eva: and indeed

• anuvatsaraḥ: the year named Anuvatsara

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Agni
• Surya
• Soma
• Vayu

Tags

• Kala
• Saṃvatsara
• Panchanga
• Cosmology
• Deities

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it maps cosmic time (the five-year cycle) onto elemental deities, showing that time is understood as a divine, sustaining order rather than mere chronology.

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

By linking year-divisions to Agni, Sun, Moon, and Wind, it supports correct calendrical awareness for dharmic duties—timing of sacrifices, vows, festivals, taxation cycles, and state/household rites aligned with the Panchanga and seasons.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it underpins choosing auspicious times (muhūrta) for homa (Agni), solar and lunar observances, and consecrations; architecturally, such time-knowledge is used when fixing dates for temple foundation-laying and prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā in Puranic/Vastu traditions.