Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Legend of Acchodā: Pitṛloka

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच लोकाः सोमपथा नाम यत्र मारीचनन्दनाः वर्तन्ते देव पितरो देवा यान्भावयन्त्यलम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca lokāḥ somapathā nāma yatra mārīcanandanāḥ vartante deva pitaro devā yānbhāvayantyalam //

Translation

Sūta said: There are worlds called the Somapathas, where the sons of Marīci dwell; there too are the divine Pitṛs and the gods, and the gods in abundance sustain and cherish those realms.

Word by Word

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• lokāḥ: worlds/realms

• somapathāḥ: the ‘Soma-path’ worlds (lunar path realms)

• nāma: by name/known as

• yatra: where

• mārīca-nandanāḥ: the sons/descendants of Marīci

• vartante: dwell/abide

• deva-pitaraḥ: the divine Pitṛs (ancestral beings)

• devāḥ: the gods

• yān: which/those (worlds)

• bhāvayanti: nourish, sustain, foster

• alam: greatly/abundantly/sufficiently

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Gosvāmin)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Somapatha
• Marīci
• Mārīcanandanāḥ (sons of Marīci)
• Devas
• Pitṛs

Tags

• Lokas
• Cosmology
• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Soma-path

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it maps the cosmic order of lokas—specifically the Somapatha realms—showing how divine beings (Devas and Pitṛs) maintain and populate higher worlds.

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

By highlighting Pitṛs and the Soma-path realms, it implicitly supports the Matsya Purana’s emphasis on śrāddha and ancestral rites: householders (and kings as exemplars) sustain dharma by honoring Pitṛs, aligning human duty with the cosmic hierarchy.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is Pitṛ-centered practice (e.g., śrāddha, tarpaṇa) connected to higher worlds; no Vāstu or temple-construction rule is stated in this particular verse.