Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

विद्याग्रामणिनो यक्षाः कुर्वन्त्याभीषुसंग्रहम् सर्पाः सर्पन्ति वै सूर्ये यातुधानानुयान्ति च //

Transliteration

vidyāgrāmaṇino yakṣāḥ kurvantyābhīṣusaṃgraham sarpāḥ sarpanti vai sūrye yātudhānānuyānti ca //

Translation

The Yakṣas, led by Vidyāgrāmaṇi, gather and marshal the Sun’s rays; the serpents glide upon the Sun, and the Yātudhānas also follow in his train.

Word by Word

• vidyā-grāmaṇinaḥ: led by Vidyāgrāmaṇi (chief of the Vidyās/retinue)

• yakṣāḥ: Yakṣas (a class of semi-divine beings)

• kurvanti: they do/make

• ābhīṣu-saṃgraham: the collecting/organizing of the rays (ābhīṣu = sunbeams, saṃgraha = gathering)

• sarpāḥ: serpents/nāgas

• sarpanti: they creep/glide/move

• vai: indeed

• sūrye: on/with the Sun (in relation to Sūrya)

• yātudhānāḥ: Yātudhānas (malevolent/occult beings, often classed with rākṣasa-types)

• anuyānti: they follow

• ca: and.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vidyāgrāmaṇi
• Yakṣas
• Sūrya (Sun)
• Sarpas (Nāgas/serpents)
• Yātudhānas

Tags

• Surya
• Cosmology
• SolarRays
• Yakshas
• PuranicAstronomy

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing Pralaya directly; it presents a cosmological model in which celestial beings regulate the Sun’s rays, emphasizing ordered cosmic governance rather than dissolution.

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

By portraying the Sun’s rays as ‘gathered and managed’ by appointed attendants, the verse supports a Purāṇic ideal of administration: just as the cosmos runs through delegated order, a king/householder should maintain dharmic order through proper organization and oversight.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not a Vāstu rule, the verse underlines Sūrya’s regulated radiance—useful in ritual context for Sūrya-upāsanā (sun worship) and for interpreting temple/altar orientation toward the Sun in broader Matsya Purana ritual-architectural discussions.