Shloka 8

Matsya Purana — The Kalyāṇa-Saptamī

Devanagari script

पूर्वेण तपनायेति मार्तण्डायेति चानले याम्ये दिवाकरायेति विधात्र इति नैरृते //

Transliteration

pūrveṇa tapanāyeti mārtaṇḍāyeti cānale yāmye divākarāyeti vidhātra iti nairṛte //

Translation

In the eastern direction he is called Tapana; in the south-east, the fire-quarter, he is called Mārtaṇḍa; in the south he is called Divākara; and in the south-west, the Nairṛta quarter, he is called Vidhātṛ.

Word by Word

• पूर्वेण (pūrveṇa): in the east

• तपनाय (tapanāya): to/as Tapana, ‘the Heater’ (a name of the Sun)

• इति (iti): thus/called

• मार्तण्डाय (mārtaṇḍāya): to/as Mārtaṇḍa (a solar epithet)

• च (ca): and

• अनले (anale): in the fire-quarter, i.e., the south-east (Agni direction)

• याम्ये (yāmye): in the southern quarter (Yama’s direction)

• दिवाकराय (divākarāya): to/as Divākara, ‘maker of the day’ (Sun)

• विधात्रे (vidhātre): to/as Vidhātṛ, ‘the Ordainer/Creator’ (solar epithet)

• इति (iti): thus/called

• नैरृते (nairṛte): in the south-west quarter (Nairṛta direction).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a Vastu/ritual-technical passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Surya (Sun)
• Tapana
• Martaṇḍa
• Divākara
• Vidhātṛ
• Agni (as the south-east/fire quarter)
• Yama (as the southern quarter)
• Nairṛta (south-west quarter)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Dik (Directions)
• Surya
• Ritual Naming
• Temple Architecture

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it gives technical, direction-based epithets of the Sun used for orientation and ritual correctness.

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

It supports dharmic practice by prescribing correct directional identifications for worship and rites—useful for household rituals and for kings commissioning temples, altars, or public sacred layouts.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes Vastu/ritual orientation: the Sun is invoked by different names in specific quarters (east, south-east, south, south-west), aiding correct placement, circumambulation logic, and quarter-specific invocations in temple and fire-ritual procedures.