Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

प्राङ्मुखो वेदमूर्तिस्तु हंसः स्याद्विपुलाचले हैमी सुपार्श्वे सुरभिर् दक्षिणाभिमुखी भवेत् //

Transliteration

prāṅmukho vedamūrtistu haṃsaḥ syādvipulācale haimī supārśve surabhir dakṣiṇābhimukhī bhavet //

Translation

Nach Osten gewandt soll der Schwan — die Verkörperung der Veden — auf dem weiten Berge aufgestellt werden. An seiner glückverheißenden Flanke setze man das goldene Bildnis; und Surabhī, die wunscherfüllende Kuh, stelle man nach Süden gewandt auf.

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखः: east-facing

• वेदमूर्तिः: having the Vedas as its embodied form / the embodiment of Vedic knowledge

• तु: indeed

• हंसः: the swan (haṁsa)

• स्यात्: should be / is to be

• विपुल-अचले: on the broad mountain / on a spacious hill (platform)

• हैमी: golden / made of gold

• सु-पार्श्वे: on the auspicious side/flank

• सुरभिः: Surabhī, the divine cow

• दक्षिण-अभिमुखी: facing south

• भवेत्: should be.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, Vastu/Iconography context)

Entities Mentioned

• Haṁsa (Swan)
• Veda (as embodied knowledge)
• Surabhī (Divine Cow)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Iconography
• Directional placement
• Temple layout
• Ritual installation

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it gives Vastu/iconographic orientation rules, using cosmic symbolism (Veda-embodying Haṁsa) to align sacred installations with directions.

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

It supports dharmic duty through correct patronage and performance of temple/ritual installations—ensuring images are placed with prescribed orientation, a key responsibility of rulers and householders funding consecrations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies precise orientation and placement: the Haṁsa should face east on an elevated/broad platform, a golden element is placed on an auspicious side, and Surabhī is positioned facing south—typical of Matsya Purana Vastu and pratimā-lakṣaṇa directives.