Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — The Legend of Acchodā: Pitṛloka

Devanagari script

धरां तु नास्पृशत्पूर्वं पपाताथ भुवस्तले तिथाव् अमावसुर् यस्याम् इच्छां चक्रे न तां प्रति //

Transliteration

dharāṃ tu nāspṛśatpūrvaṃ papātātha bhuvastale tithāv amāvasur yasyām icchāṃ cakre na tāṃ prati //

Translation

But before it could even touch the earth, it fell upon the ground—on that lunar day, the tithi of Amāvāsyā (new moon), toward which it could not fix its intention or take effect as expected.

Word by Word

• धराम् (dharām): the earth/ground

• तु (tu): but/indeed

• न (na): not

• अस्पृशत् (aspṛśat): touched/reached

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam): before/previously

• पपात (papāta): fell

• अथ (atha): then

• भुवस्-तले (bhuvas-tale): on the surface of the earth/on the ground

• तिथौ (tithau): on the lunar day/tithi

• अमावसुः/अमावस्या (amāvāsyā): new-moon day

• यस्याम् (yasyām): on which/wherein

• इच्छाम् (icchām): intention/will

• चक्रे (cakre): made/formed

• न (na): not

• ताम् प्रति (tāṃ prati): toward that/with respect to it.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting the Pralaya-related episode within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Amavasya (New Moon Tithi)
• Bhumi (Earth)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Omens
• CosmicTime
• Amavasya
• PuranaNarrative

FAQs

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

It signals an abnormal, ominous disruption tied to a specific tithi (amāvāsyā), consistent with Pralaya narratives where natural order and timing become distorted before dissolution events unfold.

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

By highlighting the importance of tithi and auspicious/inauspicious timing, it indirectly supports the Purana’s ethic that rulers and householders should heed calendrical observances and omens when making decisions, especially during crises.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The direct reference is ritual-calendar based (amāvāsyā tithi), which is significant for scheduling rites (śrāddha, expiations, vrata observances); it does not state a Vastu rule but reinforces the Purana’s emphasis on correct sacred timing.