Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

कलाः क्षीयन्ति कृष्णास्ताः शुक्ला ह्याप्याययन्ति च एवं सा सूर्यवीर्येण चन्द्रस्याप्यायिता तनुः //

Transliteration

kalāḥ kṣīyanti kṛṣṇāstāḥ śuklā hyāpyāyayanti ca evaṃ sā sūryavīryeṇa candrasyāpyāyitā tanuḥ //

Translation

During the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa) those kalās diminish, while in the bright fortnight (śukla-pakṣa) they increase. Thus the Moon’s body is replenished and made to wax by the Sun’s potency (vīrya).

Word by Word

• कलाः (kalāḥ): lunar digits/phases

• क्षीयन्ति (kṣīyanti): diminish, wane

• कृष्णाः (kṛṣṇāḥ): dark (fortnight), waning half

• ताः (tāḥ): those

• शुक्लाः (śuklāḥ): bright (fortnight), waxing half

• हि (hi): indeed

• आप्याययन्ति (āpyāyayanti): cause to swell, nourish, increase

• च (ca): and

• एवम् (evam): thus

• सा (sā): that (Moon’s)

• सूर्यवीर्येण (sūryavīryeṇa): by the Sun’s vigor/potency

• चन्द्रस्य (candrasya): of the Moon

• आप्यायिता (āpyāyitā): nourished, replenished

• तनुः (tanuḥ): body, form

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for the Matsya Purana’s instruction narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Kalā (lunar digit/phase)
• Krishna Paksha
• Shukla Paksha

Tags

• Cosmology
• Astronomy
• Lunar Phases
• Timekeeping
• Puranic Science

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it explains cyclical cosmic regulation—how lunar waxing and waning occur—reflecting orderly time (kāla) rather than dissolution.

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

By grounding ritual and civic life in lunar time: householders and kings schedule vratas, śrāddhas, festivals, and administrative observances by Shukla/Krishna Paksha and tithis, which depend on the Moon’s waxing and waning described here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it supports lunar-calendar timing for temple rites and fasts (e.g., pūrṇimā/amāvāsyā observances). Architecturally, it has indirect relevance through calendrical selection of auspicious days (muhūrta) for construction and consecration.