Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — The Sun-Vow

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे ऽर्यमनामानं मार्तण्डं पश्चिमे दले उत्तरे तु रविं देवं कर्णिकायां च भास्करम् //

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe 'ryamanāmānaṃ mārtaṇḍaṃ paścime dale uttare tu raviṃ devaṃ karṇikāyāṃ ca bhāskaram //

Translation

On the southern side one should place Aryaman; on the western petal, Mārtaṇḍa; on the northern side, the god Ravi; and in the central pericarp (the core), Bhāskara.

Word by Word

• dakṣiṇe: in the south

• aryaman-nāmānam: the one named Aryaman

• mārtaṇḍam: Mārtaṇḍa (a name/form of the Sun)

• paścime: in the west

• dale: on the petal/leaf (of the lotus-mandala)

• uttare: in the north

• tu: and/indeed

• ravim: Ravi (the Sun)

• devam: the deity

• karṇikāyām: in the pericarp/central core (of the lotus)

• ca: and

• bhāskaram: Bhāskara (the radiant Sun).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Aryaman
• Mārtaṇḍa
• Ravi
• Bhāskara
• Sūrya (Sun-god)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Iconography
• Mandala
• Surya
• Ritual Placement

FAQs

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

This verse does not teach Pralaya directly; it gives a ritual-architectural rule (nyāsa) for arranging forms of the Sun in a lotus-mandala by directions and center.

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

It supports dharmic duties through correct worship and consecration practices—kings and householders commissioning temples or performing rites are instructed to place deities according to directional order to maintain ritual correctness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies directional placement in a lotus diagram: Aryaman in the south, Mārtaṇḍa in the west petal, Ravi in the north, and Bhāskara in the central karṇikā—guiding yantra design, installation, and temple/altar iconographic layout.