Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

पौर्णमास्यां स दृश्येत शुक्लः सम्पूर्णमण्डलः एवमाप्यायितः सोमः शुक्लपक्षे ऽप्यहःक्रमात् देवैः पीतसुधं सोमं पुरा पश्चात्पिबेद्रविः //

Transliteration

paurṇamāsyāṃ sa dṛśyeta śuklaḥ sampūrṇamaṇḍalaḥ evamāpyāyitaḥ somaḥ śuklapakṣe 'pyahaḥkramāt devaiḥ pītasudhaṃ somaṃ purā paścātpibedraviḥ //

Translation

On the full-moon night he (Soma, the Moon) is seen as bright and white, with a perfectly complete orb. Thus nourished day by day throughout the bright fortnight in the order of the days (ahaḥ-krama), Soma—whose ambrosial essence was formerly drunk by the gods—is afterwards drunk by Ravi (the Sun).

Word by Word

• पौर्णमास्यां (paurṇamāsyām): on the full-moon day/night

• स (sa): he (Soma/Moon)

• दृश्येत (dṛśyeta): is seen/appears

• शुक्लः (śuklaḥ): bright/white

• सम्पूर्णमण्डलः (sampūrṇa-maṇḍalaḥ): with a full/complete disk

• एवम् (evam): thus

• आप्यायितः (āpyāyitaḥ): nourished/increased

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the Moon

• शुक्लपक्षे (śukla-pakṣe): in the bright fortnight (waxing half)

• अपि (api): also/even

• अहःक्रमात् (ahaḥ-kramāt): in the sequence of days, day by day

• देवैः (devaiḥ): by the gods

• पीतसुधम् (pīta-sudham): whose ambrosia/nectar has been drunk

• सोमम् (somam): Soma (as object)

• पुरा (purā): formerly/earlier

• पश्चात् (paścāt): afterwards/later

• पिबेत् (pibet): drinks

• रविः (raviḥ): Ravi, the Sun

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, cosmological exposition)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Moon)
• Ravi (Sun)
• Devas (gods)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Moon phases
• Solar-lunar doctrine
• Puranic astronomy
• Ritual calendar

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it explains a recurring cosmic process—how Soma waxes in the bright fortnight and is then ‘drunk’ by the Sun—showing the Purana’s cyclic view of cosmic order (ṛta) rather than dissolution.

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

By grounding time in lunar phases (Purnima, Shukla Paksha), it supports dharmic scheduling—fasts, śrāddha, and public rites—so a king or householder aligns governance and ritual life with the sacred calendar.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Purnima and the bright fortnight as key temporal markers for offerings and observances; architecturally it is indirect, but such calendrical cosmology underpins temple festival timing and monthly vrata cycles.