Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

रथंतरश्च ग्रामण्यौ रथकृच्चैव तावुभौ पुरुषादो वधश्चैव यातुधानौ तु तौ स्मृतौ //

Transliteration

rathaṃtaraśca grāmaṇyau rathakṛccaiva tāvubhau puruṣādo vadhaścaiva yātudhānau tu tau smṛtau //

Translation

Rathaṃtara and Grāmaṇya, as well as Rathakṛt—these two; and likewise Puruṣāda and Vadha—these two—are remembered as Yātudhānas (demonic beings).

Word by Word

• रथंतर (rathaṃtara): Rathaṃtara (a proper name)

• ग्रामण्यौ (grāmaṇyau): Grāmaṇya (a proper name, ‘leader of a village/clan’ as an epithet)

• रथकृत् (rathakṛt): Rathakṛt (‘maker of chariots’, here a proper name)

• तावुभौ (tāv ubhau): those two

• पुरुषाद (puruṣāda): Puruṣāda (‘man-eater’, here a proper name)

• वध (vadha): Vadha (‘slaughter/destruction’, here a proper name)

• यातुधानौ (yātudhānau): Yātudhānas, demonic/rākṣasa-class beings

• तु (tu): indeed

• तौ (tau): those two

• स्मृतौ (smṛtau): are remembered/are traditionally known.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, within a cataloguing section)

Entities Mentioned

• Rathaṃtara
• Grāmaṇya
• Rathakṛt
• Puruṣāda
• Vadha
• Yātudhānas

Tags

• Genealogy
• Rakshasas
• Yatudhana
• Name-catalogue
• Puranic taxonomy

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as a classificatory list, identifying certain named figures as Yātudhānas (a rākṣasa/demonic class) within the Purana’s broader cosmological and genealogical mapping.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma by distinguishing harmful, antisocial beings (e.g., Puruṣāda, ‘man-eater’) from righteous society—knowledge a king uses in protecting subjects and maintaining order, and a householder uses in ethical discernment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is a name-and-class identification (Yātudhāna taxonomy), not a temple-building or rite instruction.