Matsya Purana — The Pushkara Manifestation, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

वरं वै प्रथमं देवं द्वितीयं ध्रुवमव्ययम् विश्वावसुं तृतीयं च चतुर्थं सोममीश्वरम् //

Transliteration

varaṃ vai prathamaṃ devaṃ dvitīyaṃ dhruvamavyayam viśvāvasuṃ tṛtīyaṃ ca caturthaṃ somamīśvaram //

Translation

ആദ്യം ‘വര’ ദേവനെ, രണ്ടാമതായി അവ്യയനായ ‘ധ്രുവ’നെ, മൂന്നാമതായി ‘വിശ്വാവസു’വിനെ, നാലാമതായി ഈശ്വരസ്വരൂപനായ ‘സോമ’നെ സ്ഥാപിച്ച്/ആരാധിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• varaṃ: Vara (a deity/name)

• vai: indeed

• prathamaṃ: first

• devaṃ: the god/deity

• dvitīyam: second

• dhruvam: Dhruva / the fixed one

• avyayam: imperishable, undecaying

• viśvāvasum: Viśvāvasu (a Gandharva/deity)

• tṛtīyam: third

• ca: and

• caturtham: fourth

• somam: Soma (Moon-god)

• īśvaram: the Lord, sovereign

Speaker

• Suta (narrating Matsya Purana’s instructions; framed as teachings ultimately traced to Lord Matsya)

Entities Mentioned

• Vara
• Dhruva
• Viśvāvasu
• Soma

Tags

• Iconography
• Temple installation
• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual order
• Devata-krama

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it gives a ritual/iconographic sequence of specific deities (Vara, Dhruva, Viśvāvasu, Soma) to be placed or worshipped in order.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of maintaining correct public and domestic worship—following prescribed devata-order (krama) is presented as part of dharmic ritual discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It indicates a prescribed ordering for installation/worship (devata-krama), relevant to temple layout planning and consecration rites where deities are assigned positions and honored sequentially.