Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

मध्ये त्विलावृतं नाम महामेरोः समन्ततः चतुर्विंशत्सहस्राणि विस्तीर्णो योजनैः समः //

Transliteration

madhye tvilāvṛtaṃ nāma mahāmeroḥ samantataḥ caturviṃśatsahasrāṇi vistīrṇo yojanaiḥ samaḥ //

Translation

In the middle lies the region called Ilāvṛta; encircling the great Mount Meru (Mahāmeru) on every side, it extends evenly for twenty‑four thousand yojanas in breadth.

Word by Word

• मध्ये (madhye): in the middle

• तु (tu): indeed

• इलावृतम् (ilāvṛtam): Ilāvṛta (name of a central region)

• नाम (nāma): called

• महामेरोः (mahāmeroḥ): of the great Meru

• समन्ततः (samantataḥ): on all sides, all around

• चतुर्विंशत्सहस्राणि (caturviṃśat-sahasrāṇi): twenty-four thousand

• विस्तीर्णः (vistīrṇaḥ): spread out, extended

• योजनैः (yojanaiḥ): by yojanas (a unit of distance)

• समः (samaḥ): equal, uniform.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Ilāvṛta
• Mahāmeru (Mount Meru)
• Yojana

Tags

• Cosmography
• Jambudvipa
• Mount Meru
• Sacred Geography
• Puranic Measurements

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it presents a stable cosmographic layout, locating Ilāvṛta as the central region encircling Mount Meru with a defined, uniform extent.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance by grounding ritual calendars, pilgrimage routes, and sacred directionality in a shared cosmic map—knowledge a king would patronize and a householder would use for rites and tīrtha-oriented duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key significance is the use of standardized measurement (yojana) and central orientation around Meru—ideas echoed in Vastu and temple planning where a fixed center and proportional, symmetrical extensions are ritually meaningful.