Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

सूर्येण गोभिर्हि विवर्धिताभिर् अद्भिः पुनश्चैव समुच्छ्रिताभिः वृष्ट्याभिवृष्टाभिर् अथौषधीभिर् मर्त्या अथान्नेन क्षुधं जयन्ति //

Transliteration

sūryeṇa gobhirhi vivardhitābhir adbhiḥ punaścaiva samucchritābhiḥ vṛṣṭyābhivṛṣṭābhir athauṣadhībhir martyā athānnena kṣudhaṃ jayanti //

Translation

By the Sun, the waters are indeed increased; and those waters, rising up again, become rain. From that rainfall herbs and plants flourish; and then, by food (grain), human beings overcome hunger.

Word by Word

• sūryeṇa: by the Sun

• gobhiḥ: by rays (lit. ‘cows’, a Vedic metaphor for sunbeams)

• hi: indeed

• vivardhitābhiḥ: increased, nourished

• adbhiḥ: by waters

• punaḥ: again

• ca eva: and indeed

• samucchritābhiḥ: having risen up, uplifted

• vṛṣṭyā: by rain

• abhivṛṣṭābhiḥ: rained down abundantly, well-watered

• atha: then

• auṣadhībhiḥ: by herbs/medicinal plants/crops

• martyāḥ: mortals, human beings

• atha annēna: then by food/grain

• kṣudham: hunger

• jayanti: conquer, overcome.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Sun)
• Waters (Āpaḥ)
• Rain (Vṛṣṭi)
• Auṣadhi (herbs/crops)
• Anna (food/grain)
• Martya (human beings)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Rain cycle
• Food chain
• Dharma of sustenance
• Puranic ecology

FAQs

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

Rather than describing Pralaya directly, the verse explains the sustaining order of creation: sun → waters → rain → herbs/crops → food, showing how the cosmos supports life through a regulated natural cycle.

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

It implies that protecting agriculture, water resources, and timely rainfall (through governance and ritual responsibility) is central to rājadharma and gṛhastha-dharma, because people ‘conquer hunger’ only when food production is supported.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule is stated, but the verse supports ritual priorities (yajña, rain-invoking rites, and annadāna/food charity) and, by extension, settlement planning that safeguards water bodies and agricultural fertility—key concerns in Matsya Purana Vastu-oriented chapters.