Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — The Attendant Hosts of the Sun and Moon: Monthly Gaṇas

Devanagari script

ग्रथितैस्तु वचोभिश्च स्तुवन्ति ऋषयो रविम् गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव गीतनृत्यैरुपासते //

Transliteration

grathitaistu vacobhiśca stuvanti ṛṣayo ravim gandharvāpsarasaścaiva gītanṛtyairupāsate //

Translation

With well-composed words, the sages hymn and praise Ravi (the Sun); and the Gandharvas and Apsarases likewise worship him through song and dance.

Word by Word

• ग्रथितैः: well-woven, well-composed

• तु: indeed

• वचोभिः: with words/speeches

• च: and

• स्तुवन्ति: they praise, hymn

• ऋषयः: the sages

• रविम्: Ravi, the Sun

• गन्धर्व-अप्सरसः: Gandharvas and Apsarases (celestial musicians and nymphs)

• च एव: and indeed/also

• गीत-नृत्यैः: with singing and dancing

• उपासते: they worship, attend upon with devotion

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice describing cosmic/celestial worship; internal speaker not explicit in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Ravi (Surya)
• Rishis
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Tags

• Surya
• Stuti
• Ritual Worship
• Celestial Beings
• Bhakti

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights the ongoing cosmic order where Surya (Ravi) is continually revered by sages and celestial beings, implying the Sun’s sustaining role in the world’s rhythm.

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

It presents Surya-upasana as an ideal model of devotion: disciplined praise (mantra/words) and reverential offerings (music, performance). A householder or king may emulate this through daily Sun worship, recitation, and patronage of dharmic arts used in ritual contexts.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it affirms that worship can include both verbal praise (stotra) and performative offerings (gīta-nṛtya). Architecturally, while no rule is stated, it supports the broader temple-ritual ecosystem where music and dance function as sanctioned upacāras (services) to a deity.