Matsya Purana — Secondary Creation: Appointment of Cosmic Regents and Consecration of Directi..., Shloka 2

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच यदाभिषिक्तः सकलाधिराज्ये पृथुर्धरित्र्यामधिपो बभूव तदौषधीनामधिपं चकार यज्ञव्रतानां तपसां च चन्द्रम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca yadābhiṣiktaḥ sakalādhirājye pṛthurdharitryāmadhipo babhūva tadauṣadhīnāmadhipaṃ cakāra yajñavratānāṃ tapasāṃ ca candram //

Translation

సూతుడు అన్నాడు—పృథువు సకలాధిరాజ్యానికి అభిషిక్తుడై భూమికి అధిపతిగా అయినప్పుడు, అతడు చంద్రుణ్ని ఔషధుల అధిపతిగా, అలాగే యజ్ఞాలు, వ్రతాలు, తపస్సులకు అధిష్ఠాతృదేవతగా నియమించాడు.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• yadā: when

• abhiṣiktaḥ: consecrated/anointed

• sakala-adhirājye: in universal/complete sovereignty

• pṛthuḥ: King Pṛthu

• dharitryām: over the earth

• adhipaḥ: lord/ruler

• babhūva: became

• tadā: then

• auṣadhīnām: of herbs/medicinal plants

• adhipam: overlord/presiding lord

• cakāra: made/appointed

• yajña-vratānām: of sacrificial rites and religious vows

• tapasām: of austerities/penances

• ca: and

• candram: the Moon (Candra).

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Ugraśravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Pṛthu
• Candra (Moon)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Rajadharma
• Consecration
• Ritual
• Cosmic order

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it presents a governance-and-cosmology theme where a consecrated king (Pṛthu) establishes ordered oversight in the world by assigning the Moon authority over herbs and ritual disciplines.

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

It reflects Rajadharma: a rightful king is portrayed as one who stabilizes society by instituting proper authorities and supporting yajña, vows, and tapas—i.e., safeguarding the religious-ethical framework that householders and ascetics follow.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it links Candra to herbs (auṣadhi) and to yajña-vrata-tapas, implying lunar sanctity in observances, offerings, and disciplined practice—useful for understanding timing/auspiciousness and the sacral logic behind ritual materials like medicinal plants.