Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of Prayaga and the Supremacy of Cow-Donation

Devanagari script

दीप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभैर् विमानैः सूर्यसंनिभैः गन्धर्वाप्सरसां मध्ये स्वर्गे क्रीडति मानवः //

Transliteration

dīptakāñcanavarṇābhair vimānaiḥ sūryasaṃnibhaiḥ gandharvāpsarasāṃ madhye svarge krīḍati mānavaḥ //

Translation

With radiant, golden-hued aerial chariots, brilliant like the sun, a human being sports in heaven amid the Gandharvas and the Apsarases.

Word by Word

• dīpta: blazing, radiant

• kāñcana-varṇa: golden in color

• -ābhaiḥ: with those having the appearance (instrumental plural)

• vimānaiḥ: with vimānas, celestial aerial cars

• sūrya-saṃnibhaiḥ: comparable to the sun, sun-like

• gandharva-apsarasām: of Gandharvas and Apsarases

• madhye: in the midst of

• svarge: in heaven

• krīḍati: plays, sports, delights

• mānavaḥ: a human (the meritorious soul).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, describing the fruits of merit)

Entities Mentioned

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Svarga
• Vimana
• Surya

Tags

• Svarga
• Phala
• Punya
• Afterlife
• Vimana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts Svarga-phala—heavenly enjoyment attained through merit—using imagery of sun-bright vimānas and celestial companions.

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

By presenting Svarga as a result of punya, the verse supports the Purana’s broader ethic that kings and householders should uphold dharma—especially charity, sacrifices, protection of subjects, and disciplined conduct—to gain auspicious posthumous states.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule is taught here; the key motif is the 'vimāna' as a celestial vehicle (not a building prescription), used to communicate the splendor of rewards for ritual and moral merit.