Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

क्षीयन्ते च ताः शुक्लाः कृष्णा ह्याप्याययन्ति च एवं दिनक्रमात्पीते देवैश्चापि निशाकरे //

Transliteration

kṣīyante ca tāḥ śuklāḥ kṛṣṇā hyāpyāyayanti ca evaṃ dinakramātpīte devaiścāpi niśākare //

Translation

Those lunar portions (kalās) diminish in the bright fortnight (śukla), and in the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa) they are indeed replenished. Thus, as the days proceed, the Night-maker (the Moon) is, as it were, drunk by the gods.

Word by Word

• kṣīyante: diminish, wane

• ca: and

• tāḥ: those (parts/rays/kalāḥ)

• śuklāḥ: in the bright fortnight (Śukla-pakṣa)

• kṛṣṇā: in the dark fortnight (Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa)

• hi: indeed

• āpyāyayanti: they increase/replenish

• ca: and

• evaṃ: thus

• dina-kramāt: by the sequence/course of days

• pīte: when drunk/partaken of

• devaiḥ: by the gods

• ca api: and also/indeed

• niśākare: in/with the Moon, the maker of night

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu on cosmological order and time-reckoning)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Niśākara (Moon/Soma)

Tags

• Cosmology
• Moon
• Paksha
• Timekeeping
• Devas

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it explains the regulated cosmic process of lunar waxing and waning as part of the ongoing maintenance of time and order.

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

By grounding ritual and calendrical observances in the lunar fortnight system, it supports dharmic scheduling—fasts, offerings, and royal/household rites aligned to Śukla- and Kṛṣṇa-pakṣa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to Soma/Moon-based calendrics used for selecting tithis and pakṣas for yajñas, vratas, and temple worship timings (rather than giving a direct Vāstu rule).