Matsya Purana — Planetary Chariots, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ततो भौमरथश्चापि अष्टाङ्गः काञ्चनः स्मृतः अष्टभिर् लोहितैरश्वैः सध्वजैर् अग्निसम्भवैः सर्पते ऽसौ कुमारो वै ऋजुवक्रानुवक्रगः //

Transliteration

tato bhaumarathaścāpi aṣṭāṅgaḥ kāñcanaḥ smṛtaḥ aṣṭabhir lohitairaśvaiḥ sadhvajair agnisambhavaiḥ sarpate 'sau kumāro vai ṛjuvakrānuvakragaḥ //

Translation

Ensuite on se souvient aussi du char de Bhauma (Mars) : un char d’or pourvu de huit parties. Tiré par huit chevaux rouges—nés du feu et portant des étendards—il file; ce jeune être avance tantôt droit, tantôt en courbe, puis en courbe suivant la courbe.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/next

• bhauma-rathaḥ: the Bhau(ma) chariot (earth-associated chariot)

• ca api: and also

• aṣṭa-aṅgaḥ: having eight limbs/parts

• kāñcanaḥ: golden

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/said to be

• aṣṭabhiḥ: by eight

• lohitaiḥ: red

• aśvaiḥ: horses

• sa-dhvajaiḥ: with banners/standards

• agni-sambhavaiḥ: born of fire/fire-origin

• sarpate: glides/speeds/creeps swiftly

• asau: that

• kumāraḥ: the youth/young one

• vai: indeed

• ṛju: straight

• vakra: curved

• anu-vakra-gaḥ: moving in a following curve/serpentine course

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhaumaratha
• Kumāra
• Agni (implied by agni-sambhava)
• Dhvajā (banner/standard)

Tags

• Iconography
• Chariot
• Vahana
• Astral imagery
• Pratima Lakshana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on a symbolic/astral-style description of a golden chariot and its fire-born horses, emphasizing divine motion rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports royal-ritual culture: banners, chariots, and ordered movement evoke disciplined procession and sacred kingship—models for how a king should sponsor public rites and maintain auspicious pageantry.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The mention of dhvaja (standards) and a defined chariot form (aṣṭāṅga) aligns with temple and festival processions—useful for iconography and ritual design where vehicles, standards, and movement-patterns are prescribed for auspicious display.