Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

*अगस्त्य उवाच यावद्ब्रह्मसहस्राणां पञ्चविंशतिकोटयः वैमानिको भविष्यामि दक्षिणाचलवर्त्मनि //

Transliteration

*agastya uvāca yāvadbrahmasahasrāṇāṃ pañcaviṃśatikoṭayaḥ vaimāniko bhaviṣyāmi dakṣiṇācalavartmani //

Translation

Agastya said: “For as long as twenty-five crores of thousands of Brahmā-ages endure, I shall remain a vaimānika—one who journeys in a celestial vimāna—upon the path of Dakṣiṇācala.”

Word by Word

• अगस्त्य उवाच: Agastya said

• यावत्: as long as, until

• ब्रह्मसहस्राणाम्: of thousands of Brahmā(-ages)/Brahmā-periods

• पञ्चविंशति-कोटयः: twenty-five crores (a very large number)

• वैमानिकः: one who moves in a vimāna, a celestial traveller

• भविष्यामि: I shall be, I will remain

• दक्षिणाचल-वर्त्मनि: on the path/route associated with Dakṣiṇācala (the Southern Mountain/sacred southern hill).

Speaker

• Agastya

Entities Mentioned

• Agastya
• Brahma
• Dakshinachala
• Vimana

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Time Cycles
• Rishi Traditions
• Pilgrimage Routes

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses vast cosmological time-units (Brahmā-ages) to emphasize the extraordinary duration of Agastya’s vowed presence connected with Dakṣiṇācala.

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

Indirectly, it models niyama (vowed discipline) and long-term religious commitment—virtues praised in the Matsya Purana for householders and rulers who sustain dharma through sustained worship, patronage of tirthas, and honoring rishis.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse points to a tirtha-route (dakṣiṇācala-vartman) rather than construction rules; ritually, it highlights the sanctity of a specific pilgrimage path and the merit of sustained association with that sacred landscape.