Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

इत्येष पितृमान्सोमः स्मृतस्तद्वसुधात्मकः कान्तः पञ्चदशैः सार्धं सुधाभृतपरिस्रवैः //

Transliteration

ityeṣa pitṛmānsomaḥ smṛtastadvasudhātmakaḥ kāntaḥ pañcadaśaiḥ sārdhaṃ sudhābhṛtaparisravaiḥ //

Translation

Thus is Soma (the Moon) remembered as “Pitṛmān”—the one connected with the Fathers (Pitṛs); he is of the nature of nourishment and the Earth’s sustaining essence, the lovely one, together with the fifteen lunar digits, flowing forth with streams that bear nectar.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• eṣaḥ: this (one)

• pitṛmān: possessed of/associated with the Pitṛs (ancestors)

• somaḥ: Soma, the Moon

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/declared

• tad-vasudhā-ātmakaḥ: of the nature of that nourishment/earthly sustaining essence (vasudhā as support/abundance)

• kāntaḥ: lovely, radiant

• pañcadaśaiḥ: with the fifteen (kalās, lunar digits)

• sārdham: together with

• sudhā-bhṛta: bearing nectar (amṛta)

• parisravaiḥ: with outflows/streams, by flowing forth.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, continuing the descriptive narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma
• Pitṛs
• Pañcadaśa-kalāḥ (fifteen lunar digits)
• Sudhā/Amṛta

Tags

• Cosmology
• Soma
• Pitṛs
• Amṛta
• Lunar Kalās

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic cosmology in which Soma sustains beings through nourishing, nectar-like essence; this is part of the ongoing maintenance of the cosmos rather than a direct Pralaya description.

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

By identifying Soma as connected with the Pitṛs and as a source of nourishing essence, it aligns with householder duties like pitṛ-yajña (ancestor rites) and offerings (tarpaṇa), which are traditionally linked to lunar cycles.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse emphasizes Soma, the fifteen lunar kalās, and nectar-like flow—ideas commonly used to time and frame rites (especially Pitṛ-related observances) according to lunar phases, though no direct Vāstu/temple rule is stated here.