Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

श्वेतश्च हेमकूटश्च हिमवाञ्छृङ्गवांश्च यः जम्बूद्वीपप्रमाणेण ऋषभः परिकीर्त्यते //

Transliteration

śvetaśca hemakūṭaśca himavāñchṛṅgavāṃśca yaḥ jambūdvīpapramāṇeṇa ṛṣabhaḥ parikīrtyate //

Translation

Śveta, Hemakūṭa, Himavān, and Śṛṅgavān—these mountain ranges are described; and, in terms of Jambūdvīpa’s measured extent, Ṛṣabha is also renowned as a defining range.

Word by Word

śvetaḥthe Śveta mountain range (lit. 'white')

caand

hemakūṭaḥthe Hemakūṭa mountain (lit. 'golden peak')

caand

himavānHimavān/Himālaya (the snowy range)

chṛṅgavānŚṛṅgavān (the horned/peaked range)

yaḥwhich/that

jambūdvīpa-pramāṇeṇaaccording to the measure/extent of Jambūdvīpa

ṛṣabhaḥṚṣabha (a named mountain/range)

parikīrtyateis proclaimed/celebrated/described.

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (cosmographical narration context)

Entities Mentioned

JambudvipaŚveta (mountain)Hemakūṭa (mountain)Himavān/HimālayaŚṛṅgavān (mountain)Ṛṣabha (mountain)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the cosmographical section describing Jambūdvīpa’s mountain ranges and how Ṛṣabha is noted with reference to the island’s measured extent (pramāṇa).

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance and ritual life by grounding pilgrimage, territorial understanding, and sacred geography—knowledge a king or householder may use for yātrā, donations, and maintaining holy sites, though no direct royal duty is prescribed here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-rule instruction appears; the practical significance is geographic orientation—mountain and region names used in Purāṇic ritual geography (tīrtha context) and traditional cosmological layout references.