Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

खर्जूरैर्नारिकेलैश्च प्रियालाम्रातकेङ्गुदैः तन्तुमालैर् धवैर्भव्यैः काश्मीरीपर्णिभिस्तथा //

Transliteration

kharjūrairnārikelaiśca priyālāmrātakeṅgudaiḥ tantumālair dhavairbhavyaiḥ kāśmīrīparṇibhistathā //

Translation

Mit Dattelpalmen kharjūra und Kokospalmen nārikelā; mit priyāla, dem Mangobaum (āmra), āṭaka und iṅguda; mit tantumāla, dhava und den glückverheißenden bhavya-Bäumen; ebenso mit kāśmīrī-parṇin-Bäumen.

Word by Word

• खर्जूरैः (kharjūraiḥ): with date-palms

• नारिकेलैः (nārikelaiḥ): with coconut trees

• च (ca): and

• प्रियाल (priyāla): the priyāla tree (Buchanania/charoli)

• आम्र (āmra): mango

• आतक (āṭaka): a tree-name (traditional identification uncertain)

• इङ्गुदैः (iṅgudaiḥ): with iṅguda (desert date/berry tree, Balanites)

• तन्तुमालैः (tantumālaiḥ): with tantumāla (a fibrous tree used for cordage

• धवैः (dhavaiḥ): with dhava (Anogeissus latifolia)

• भव्यैः (bhavyaiḥ): with bhavya trees (auspicious/approved species

• काश्मीरीपर्णिभिः (kāśmīrī-parṇibhiḥ): with the kāśmīrī-parṇin trees ("Kashmiri-leaved" species

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• kharjūra (date-palm)
• nārikela (coconut)
• priyāla
• āmra (mango)
• iṅguda
• dhava

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Sacred trees
• Temple materials
• Ritual landscaping
• Matsya Purana Vastuvidya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a practical Vastu-oriented list of auspicious/approved trees, indicating how sacred spaces are supported through correct materials rather than describing cosmic dissolution.

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

By prescribing approved tree species, it supports a king’s duty to build and maintain temples, public works, and sacred groves properly, and a householder’s duty to choose auspicious materials for ritual spaces and charitable construction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It functions as a materials guideline: certain trees (date, coconut, mango, etc.) are deemed suitable/auspicious for planting, sourcing, or associating with sacred architecture and ritual environments (temple precincts, gardens, and related works).