Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

तस्मात्तु पर्वणो ह्यादौ प्रतिपद्यादिसंधिषु सायाह्ने अनुमत्याश्च द्वौ लवौ काल उच्यते लवौ द्वावेव राकायाः कालो ज्ञेयो ऽपराह्णिकः //

Transliteration

tasmāttu parvaṇo hyādau pratipadyādisaṃdhiṣu sāyāhne anumatyāśca dvau lavau kāla ucyate lavau dvāveva rākāyāḥ kālo jñeyo 'parāhṇikaḥ //

Translation

Therefore, at the beginning of a parvan (festival-junction)—at junctions such as Pratipadā and the like—the parvan-time is said to be two lavas in the evening; and likewise, for Rākā (the full-moon night), the time should be known as two lavas in the afternoon (aparāhṇa).

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore

• tu: indeed/then

• parvaṇaḥ: of the parvan (lunar festival-junction)

• hi: certainly

• ādau: at the beginning

• pratipady-ādi-saṃdhiṣu: at the junctions beginning with Pratipadā (1st lunar day) etc.

• sāyāhne: in the evening

• anumatyāś ca: and (at) Anumati (a lunar/ritual designation, often connected with the moon’s consent/auspicious allowance)

• dvau: two

• lavau: lavas (very small time-units)

• kālaḥ: time/period

• ucyate: is said (to be)

• lavau dvā eva: exactly two lavas

• rākāyāḥ: of Rākā (full-moon night/personified full moon)

• kālaḥ: time

• jñeyaḥ: should be known/ascertained

• aparāhṇikaḥ: belonging to the afternoon (after midday).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the Matsya Purana’s rule on parva-kāla determination (ritual calendrics)

Entities Mentioned

• Parvan
• Pratipadā
• Anumati
• Rākā (Pūrṇimā)

Tags

• Vrata-Kāla
• Tithi
• Parvan
• Purnima
• Ritual Timing

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is technical dharma/kalā-nirṇaya, defining precise parvan timing around lunar-day junctions rather than cosmology or pralaya.

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

It supports correct observance of vratas and festival rites: a king (as patron of public dharma) and a householder (as performer of domestic rites) must time parvan worship/fasting accurately, especially at tithi junctions like Pratipadā and at Pūrṇimā (Rākā).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritual significance: it specifies the operative window (two lavas) for parvan observance—placed in the evening for Pratipadā-type junctions and in the afternoon for Rākā/Pūrṇimā—useful for scheduling pūjā, dāna, and vrata procedures.