Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

पीतश्च दक्षिणेनासौ तेन वैश्यत्वमिष्येत भृङ्गिपत्त्रीनभश् चैव पश्चिमेन समन्वितः तेनास्य शूद्रता सिद्धा मेरोर् नामार्थकर्मतः //

Transliteration

pītaśca dakṣiṇenāsau tena vaiśyatvamiṣyeta bhṛṅgipattrīnabhaś caiva paścimena samanvitaḥ tenāsya śūdratā siddhā meror nāmārthakarmataḥ //

Translation

If it is yellow on the southern side, then Vaishya-hood is to be understood. And if on the western side it bears the ‘bhṛṅgī-leaf’ mark and a cloud-like hue, then its Shudra-hood is established—according to the name, meaning, and function connected with Meru.

Word by Word

• pītaḥ: yellow

• ca: and

• dakṣiṇena: on the southern side / by the south

• asau: that (object/mark/form)

• tena: by that / therefore

• vaiśyatvam: the state of being a Vaiśya

• iṣyeta: is accepted / should be understood

• bhṛṅgi-pattrī-nabhaḥ: having the appearance of a bhṛṅgī-leaf (foliate mark) and cloud-like (nabhas) aspect

• ca eva: and indeed

• paścimena: on the western side / by the west

• samanvitaḥ: endowed / accompanied

• tena: by that

• asya: of it / for it

• śūdratā: the state of being a Śūdra

• siddhā: established / determined

• meroḥ: of Meru

• nāma-artha-karmataḥ: from (its) name, meaning, and prescribed function/operation

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic Vastu/cosmography passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Meru

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Directions
• Varna symbolism
• Cosmography
• Matsya Purana Vastu rules

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to a technical, symbolic scheme where directions and observable marks (color/appearance) are interpreted for classification, linked here to Meru’s conceptual ‘name-meaning-function’ framework.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance and household practice by prescribing how to read directional signs and attributes for proper ordering and decision-making—useful to kings and householders when commissioning ritual spaces, settlements, or temples according to authoritative Vastu norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes a Vastu-style interpretive rule: southern yellowness is read as ‘Vaiśya’ association, while western foliate/cloud-like features indicate ‘Śūdra’ association—suggesting how directional qualities and surface-marks guide ritual/architectural classification tied to Meru symbolism.