Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Procedure and Merit of the Śubha-Saptamī Vrata

Devanagari script

अप्सरोगणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यमानः सुरालये वसेद्गणाधिपो भूत्वा यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् कल्पादाववतीर्णस्तु सप्तद्वीपाधिपो भवेत् //

Transliteration

apsarogaṇagandharvaiḥ pūjyamānaḥ surālaye vasedgaṇādhipo bhūtvā yāvadābhūtasaṃplavam kalpādāvavatīrṇastu saptadvīpādhipo bhavet //

Translation

Honoured by hosts of Apsarases and Gandharvas, he dwells in the abode of the gods; becoming a chief of the Gaṇas, he remains there until the cosmic dissolution. Then, descending again at the beginning of a new kalpa, he becomes a sovereign ruler over the seven continents (saptadvīpas).

Word by Word

• अप्सरोगण (apsarogaṇa): hosts of Apsarases

• गन्धर्वैः (gandharvaiḥ): by Gandharvas

• पूज्यमानः (pūjyamānaḥ): being worshipped/honoured

• सुरालये (surālaye): in the gods’ abode (Svarga)

• वसेत् (vaset): he would dwell

• गणाधिपः (gaṇādhipaḥ): chief/lord of the Gaṇas (divine attendants)

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become

• यावत् (yāvat): until

• आभूतसंप्लवम् (ābhūtasaṃplavam): the great dissolution/flood up to the level of all beings (pralaya)

• कल्पादौ (kalpādau): at the beginning of a kalpa

• अवतीर्णः (avatīrṇaḥ): descended/embodied again

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• सप्तद्वीपाधिपः (saptadvīpādhipaḥ): lord of the seven dvīpas (continents)

• भवेत् (bhavet): would become.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Apsaras
• Gandharvas
• Suralaya (Svarga)
• Gaṇādhipa (chief of the Gaṇas)
• Pralaya (ābhūtasaṃplava)
• Kalpa
• Saptadvīpa (seven continents)

Tags

• Phala-Śruti
• Svarga
• Pralaya
• Kalpa
• Rebirth
• Kingship
• Cosmic Cycles

FAQs

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

It frames pralaya as a cosmic endpoint up to which meritorious beings can remain in Svarga; after dissolution, existence resumes at the start of the next kalpa with renewed embodiment and worldly sovereignty.

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

It presents an ethical incentive model typical of the Purāṇas: dharmic worship and right conduct yield heavenly honor and, later, legitimate kingship—suggesting that righteous life supports both spiritual ascent and orderly governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears; the ritual takeaway is the phala (reward) doctrine—proper worship leads to divine honor in Svarga and auspicious rebirth in a high, world-ordering role.