Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

एते वसन्ति वै सूर्ये मासयोः शुचिशुक्रयोः ततः सूर्ये पुनश्चान्या निवसन्ति स्म देवताः //

Transliteration

ete vasanti vai sūrye māsayoḥ śuciśukrayoḥ tataḥ sūrye punaścānyā nivasanti sma devatāḥ //

Translation

These deities indeed dwell in the Sun during the two months Śuci and Śukra; thereafter, again, other deities are said to reside in the Sun.

Word by Word

• ete: these (deities)

• vasanti: dwell, reside

• vai: indeed

• sūrye: in the Sun (in the solar orb)

• māsayoḥ: in (the span of) two months / of the months

• śuci-śukrayoḥ: (named) Śuci and Śukra

• tataḥ: then, thereafter

• sūrye: in the Sun

• punaḥ: again

• ca: and

• anyāḥ: other (feminine plural, i.e., other deities/hosts)

• nivasanti: reside

• sma: (particle indicating narration/affirmation, “it is said/indeed”)

• devatāḥ: deities, divine beings.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu, typical dialogue frame of Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya
• Devatāḥ
• Śuci (month-name)
• Śukra (month-name)

Tags

• Surya
• Calendar
• Deities
• RitualTiming
• PuranicCosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it maps a cosmological cycle in which different groups of deities are said to reside in the Sun according to specific months.

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

By linking months to divine presences in the Sun, it supports month-wise religious observances—useful for kings and householders when scheduling vows, gifts, and rites in harmony with the sacred calendar.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is calendrical: certain months (Śuci and Śukra) are marked as periods when particular deities are associated with the Sun, informing timing for solar rites (Sūrya-upāsanā) and month-specific ceremonies.