Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Soma

Devanagari script

प्रकृतिः कृष्णपक्षस्य काले ऽतीते ऽपराह्णिके सायाह्ने प्रतिपद्येष स कालः पौर्णमासिकः //

Transliteration

prakṛtiḥ kṛṣṇapakṣasya kāle 'tīte 'parāhṇike sāyāhne pratipadyeṣa sa kālaḥ paurṇamāsikaḥ //

Translation

When the natural (proper) time of the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa) has passed—i.e., when the afternoon (aparāhṇa) has elapsed—and Pratipad (the first lunar day) occurs in the evening, that time is to be classified as belonging to the Paurṇamāsika (full-moon-based) reckoning.

Word by Word

• prakṛtiḥ: the natural/proper rule or standard

• kṛṣṇapakṣasya: of the dark fortnight (waning half)

• kāle: at the time/when the time

• atīte: has passed/elapsed

• aparāhṇike: in the latter part of the day/afternoon

• sāyāhne: in the evening

• pratipadyeṣa: this Pratipad (first tithi) occurring/manifesting

• sa kālaḥ: that time/that temporal condition

• paurṇamāsikaḥ: belonging to the Paurṇamāsa (full-moon-based) system/observance.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s calendrical/ritual time-determination discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Kṛṣṇapakṣa
• Pratipad
• Paurṇamāsa

Tags

• Tithi
• Paksha
• Purnimanta Calendar
• Ritual Timing
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it addresses dharmic time-reckoning—how to classify a boundary case of lunar days (tithi) for ritual and calendrical purposes.

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

It supports correct observance of rites (vrata, śrāddha, yajña) by teaching how to decide the proper calendrical system when tithi transitions occur late in the day—an essential duty for householders and for kings who uphold public ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it defines a Paurṇamāsika (full-moon-based) classification when Pratipad arises in the evening after the afternoon has passed, guiding accurate scheduling of monthly observances tied to lunar fortnight boundaries.