Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

हरिवर्षात्परं चापि मेरोस्तु तदिलावृतम् इलावृतात्परं नीलं रम्यकं नाम विश्रुतम् //

Transliteration

harivarṣātparaṃ cāpi merostu tadilāvṛtam ilāvṛtātparaṃ nīlaṃ ramyakaṃ nāma viśrutam //

Translation

Beyond Hari-varṣa lies Ilāvṛta, belonging to Mount Meru; and beyond Ilāvṛta is the celebrated region called Ramyaka, by the mountain Nīla.

Word by Word

• harivarṣāt: beyond Harivarṣa

• param: further/on the other side

• ca api: and also

• meroḥ: of Meru (Mount Meru)

• tu: indeed

• tat: that

• ilāvṛtam: Ilāvṛta (varṣa/region)

• ilāvṛtāt: beyond Ilāvṛta

• param: further

• nīlam: Nīla (mountain/region-marker)

• ramyakam: Ramyaka (a varṣa/land)

• nāma: named/called

• viśrutam: renowned, famous

Speaker

• Sūta (purāṇic narrator) reporting the cosmographical teaching (traditionally framed as Matsya’s instruction to Manu in this section)

Entities Mentioned

• Harivarṣa
• Mount Meru
• Ilāvṛta
• Nīla
• Ramyaka

Tags

• Cosmography
• Jambudvipa
• Mount Meru
• Sacred Geography
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a cosmographical arrangement of regions (varṣas) around Mount Meru—Harivarṣa, Ilāvṛta, and Ramyaka—used in Purāṇic descriptions of the ordered universe.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma by grounding pilgrimage, sacred geography, and a king’s ideal of protecting and honoring holy regions; it does not prescribe specific royal or household duties in this line.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu/temple-rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is geographic orientation—Meru-centered cosmology often guides tīrtha concepts and symbolic temple layouts that mirror a sacred world-order.