Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

इत्येष एकचक्रेण सूर्यस्तूर्णं प्रसर्पति तत्र तैरक्रमैरश्वैः सर्पते ऽसौ दिनक्षये //

Transliteration

ityeṣa ekacakreṇa sūryastūrṇaṃ prasarpati tatra tairakramairaśvaiḥ sarpate 'sau dinakṣaye //

Translation

Thus the Sun swiftly advances on his single-wheeled chariot; there, drawn by those horses whose steps are imperceptible, he glides on until the day comes to its end.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• eṣaḥ: this (Sun)

• ekacakreṇa: with a single wheel / on a one-wheeled (chariot)

• sūryaḥ: the Sun

• tūrṇam: swiftly

• prasarpati: moves forward, advances

• tatra: there (on that course/track)

• taiḥ: by those

• akramaiḥ: with unstepping/imperceptible steps, step-less (i.e., too subtle to be seen)

• aśvaiḥ: by horses

• sarpate: glides, creeps along

• asau: he (the Sun)

• dina-kṣaye: at the ending of the day / when the day is spent.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Sun)

Tags

• Surya
• Kala (Time)
• Cosmology
• Day-Night
• Puranic Astronomy

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it explains the regular cosmic order (kāla) through the Sun’s motion that brings each day to its close—an underlying framework used in Purāṇas to discuss larger cycles, including dissolution.

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

By emphasizing the orderly passage of time through Surya’s movement, it implicitly supports dharma-based discipline: rulers and householders should structure rituals, governance, and daily duties according to time (day’s end, proper timings), reflecting cosmic order in human conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to timekeeping for daily observances (sandhyā, offerings, and end-of-day rites). Architecturally, it indirectly supports orientation and calendrical timing used in Vāstu and temple ritual scheduling, though no direct building rule is stated in this verse.