Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

देवैः परिवृतः सोमः पितृभिः सह गच्छति सोमस्य शुक्लपक्षादौ भास्करे परतः स्थिते //

Transliteration

devaiḥ parivṛtaḥ somaḥ pitṛbhiḥ saha gacchati somasya śuklapakṣādau bhāskare parataḥ sthite //

Translation

Surrounded by the gods, Soma (the Moon) proceeds together with the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits), when—at the beginning of Soma’s bright fortnight (śukla-pakṣa)—Bhāskara (the Sun) is positioned beyond/behind (parataḥ) him.

Word by Word

• देवैः (devaiḥ): by/with the gods

• परिवृतः (parivṛtaḥ): surrounded, encircled

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the Moon

• पितृभिः (pitṛbhiḥ): with the Pitṛs, ancestors

• सह (saha): together with

• गच्छति (gacchati): goes, proceeds

• सोमस्य (somasya): of Soma/Moon

• शुक्लपक्षादौ (śuklapakṣādau): at the beginning of the bright fortnight

• भास्करे (bhāskare): when Bhāskara, the Sun

• परतः (parataḥ): beyond, behind, on the far side

• स्थिते (sthite): being situated/positioned

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, as typical Matsya Purāṇa dialogue framing for cosmological teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Moon)
• Devas (gods)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Bhāskara (Sun)

Tags

• Pitṛ-loka
• Śukla Pakṣa
• Lunar cosmology
• Ritual timing
• Tithi doctrine

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it presents a cosmological-ritual mapping of the Moon’s (Soma’s) movement with the Pitṛs during the bright fortnight, linking celestial positioning (Sun relative to Moon) to sacred time.

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

By tying Pitṛ activity to the śukla-pakṣa and the Sun–Moon configuration, it supports dharmic timing for pitṛ-kārya (ancestor offerings such as śrāddha). A householder (and a king as patron of public rites) is expected to observe correct calendrical timing for ancestral and deity-centered observances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it indicates an auspicious/operative lunar phase (start of śukla-pakṣa) associated with Soma moving with the Pitṛs, useful for planning śrāddha, tarpaṇa, and other time-sensitive rites in the Matsya Purāṇa’s calendrical framework.