Shloka 80

Matsya Purana — Cosmic Architecture of Sun–Moon and the ‘Houses of the Gods’

Devanagari script

द्वीपानामुदधीनां च पर्वतानां तथैव च वर्षाणां च नदीनां च ये च तेषु वसन्ति वै //

Transliteration

dvīpānāmudadhīnāṃ ca parvatānāṃ tathaiva ca varṣāṇāṃ ca nadīnāṃ ca ye ca teṣu vasanti vai //

Translation

“(I shall speak) of the continents and the oceans, and likewise of the mountains; of the regions (varṣas) and the rivers too—and also of those beings who dwell within them.”

Word by Word

• द्वीपानाम (dvīpānām): of the continents/islands

• उदधीनाम् (udadhīnām): of the oceans/seas

• च (ca): and

• पर्वतानाम् (parvatānām): of the mountains

• तथैव (tathaiva): likewise/just so

• वर्षाणाम् (varṣāṇām): of the regions/territorial divisions (varṣas)

• नदीनाम् (nadīnām): of the rivers

• ये (ye): who/which

• च (ca): and

• तेषु (teṣu): in them/among them

• वसन्ति (vasanti): dwell/reside

• वै (vai): indeed/truly (emphatic particle).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Dvipas
• Udadhis (oceans)
• Parvatas (mountains)
• Varsas (regions)
• Nadis (rivers)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Cosmography
• Puranic World-Map
• Bhuvana
• Pilgrimage Context

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing Pralaya; it introduces a cosmographical survey—continents, oceans, mountains, regions, rivers, and the beings living there—framing the ordered world rather than its dissolution.

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

By outlining the world’s regions and inhabitants, it supports a king’s ideal of knowing lands, peoples, and natural boundaries (rivers/mountains) for righteous governance, protection, and pilgrimage patronage; for householders, it contextualizes sacred geography tied to dharma and tirtha-travel.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; indirectly, such geographic enumerations ground tirtha-mahima and regional temple traditions by locating sacred rivers, mountains, and lands that become sites for ritual practice and temple establishment.