Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

यस्यां मन्वन्तरस्यादौ रथमास्ते दिवाकरः माघमासस्य सप्तम्यां सा तु स्याद्रथसप्तमी //

Transliteration

yasyāṃ manvantarasyādau rathamāste divākaraḥ māghamāsasya saptamyāṃ sā tu syādrathasaptamī //

Translation

Aquel séptimo día lunar (saptamī) del mes de Māgha—en el que, al mismo comienzo de un Manvantara, se dice que el Sol (Divākara) monta su carro—es, en verdad, conocido como Ratha-saptamī.

Word by Word

• yasyām: on which (day)

• manvantarasya: of a Manvantara

• ādau: at the beginning

• ratham: the chariot

• āste: sits/ascends (is seated)

• divākaraḥ: the Sun (maker of day)

• māgha-māsasya: of the month of Māgha

• saptamyām: on the seventh (tithi)

• sā: that (day)

• tu: indeed

• syāt: is/should be

• ratha-saptamī: Ratha-saptamī (the chariot-seventh observance)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, typical Matsya Purana dialogue frame for dharma and sacred observances)

Entities Mentioned

• Divakara (Surya)
• Manvantara
• Magha
• Ratha-saptami

Tags

• Surya
• Vrata
• Manvantara
• Kalpa-Time
• Ritual Calendar

FAQs

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

It situates ritual time within cosmic time: the day called Ratha-saptamī is linked to the commencement of a Manvantara, emphasizing how Puranic calendrics mirror large-scale cosmic cycles rather than directly describing Pralaya here.

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

It provides a dharma-calendar marker: kings and householders are expected to observe auspicious tithis for worship—here, Māgha saptamī for Sūrya—supporting righteous conduct through regular vrata and public/household ritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is primary: Ratha-saptamī is defined as a Sun-related observance day (Māgha saptamī) tied to the Sun’s chariot symbolism, commonly prompting Sūrya worship and related rites rather than Vāstu rules in this specific verse.