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

માઘ માસની જે સપ્તમીમાં મન્વંતર આરંભે દિવાકર સૂર્ય રથ પર આરૂઢ થાય છે એમ કહેવાય છે, તે જ ‘રથસપ્તમી’ નામે પ્રસિદ્ધ છે.

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.