Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Eclipse-Time Planetary Bath

Devanagari script

प्राणरूपेण यो लोकान् पाति कृष्णमृगप्रियः वायुश्चन्द्रोपरागोत्थां पीडामत्र व्यपोहतु //

Transliteration

prāṇarūpeṇa yo lokān pāti kṛṣṇamṛgapriyaḥ vāyuścandroparāgotthāṃ pīḍāmatra vyapohatu //

Translation

ప్రాణరూపుడై లోకాలను కాపాడువాడు, కృష్ణమృగప్రియుడైన వాయుదేవుడు ఇక్కడ చంద్రోపరాగోత్థ పీడను తొలగించుగాక।

Word by Word

• प्राण-रूपेण: in the form of prāṇa (life-breath)

• यः: who

• लोकान्: the worlds/creatures

• पाति: protects

• कृष्ण-मृग-प्रियः: dear to the black antelope (kṛṣṇamṛga)

• वायुः: Vāyu (Wind-god)

• चन्द्र-उपराग-उत्थाम्: arisen from the lunar eclipse

• पीडाम्: affliction, pain, distress

• अत्र: here (in this rite/at this place)

• व्यपोहतु: may (he) ward off/remove completely.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) presenting a śānti-mantra within the Matsya Purana’s discourse (commonly framed as teachings ultimately attributed to Lord Matsya to Manu).

Entities Mentioned

• Vāyu
• Prāṇa
• Candra (Moon)
• Candroparāga (lunar eclipse)
• Kṛṣṇamṛga (black antelope)

Tags

• Śānti
• Eclipse
• Prāṇa
• Vāyu
• Ritual

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it reflects a Purāṇic cosmology where prāṇa (life-breath), identified with Vāyu, sustains the worlds and can be invoked to neutralize disruptive cosmic events like eclipses.

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

It supports the dharmic duty to maintain social and personal well-being through prescribed śānti rites—especially during ominous times (e.g., eclipses)—so that health, order, and auspiciousness are preserved.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it functions as a śānti-mantra: an invocation to Vāyu to remove candroparāga-janita pīḍā (eclipse-born affliction), aligning with Matsya Purana-style remedial recitations performed at a specific place (‘atra’).