Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Array of the Gods: Description of the Vaiṣṇava Host and the Lokapālas

Devanagari script

स स्यन्दनवरो भाति गुप्तो मातलिना तदा कृत्स्नः परिवृतो मेरुर् भास्करस्येव तेजसा //

Transliteration

sa syandanavaro bhāti gupto mātalinā tadā kṛtsnaḥ parivṛto merur bhāskarasyeva tejasā //

Translation

Then that excellent chariot shone forth, guarded by Mātali; it was wholly encircled with radiance, like Mount Meru blazing with the splendor of the Sun.

Word by Word

• saḥ: that

• syandana-varaḥ: the best chariot

• bhāti: shines, appears radiant

• guptaḥ: protected/guarded

• mātalinā: by Mātali (Indra’s charioteer)

• tadā: then

• kṛtsnaḥ: entirely, wholly

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded/encircled

• meruḥ: Mount Meru

• bhāskarasya: of the Sun

• iva: like

• tejasā: with brilliance, with splendor

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s ongoing dialogue framework

Entities Mentioned

• Mātali
• Syandana (celestial chariot)
• Meru
• Bhāskara (Sun)

Tags

• Celestial chariot
• Divine radiance
• Mythic geography
• Indra’s retinue
• Puranic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses cosmic imagery (Meru and the Sun’s radiance) to convey overwhelming divine splendor and auspicious power within a narrative scene.

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

Indirectly, it models ideals of protection and order: just as the chariot is “guarded” (gupta) by a competent charioteer, a king should ensure disciplined guardianship of his realm, and a householder should safeguard dharma through vigilant stewardship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated, but the comparison to Meru and solar tejas echoes the Puranic aesthetic used in temple/icon descriptions—radiance, centrality, and auspicious brilliance—often employed in later Vāstu and pratimā-lakṣaṇa contexts.