Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

तयोर्मध्ये तु विज्ञेयो मेरुर्यत्र त्विलावृतम् दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु //

Transliteration

tayormadhye tu vijñeyo meruryatra tvilāvṛtam dakṣiṇena tu nīlasya niṣadhasyottareṇa tu //

Translation

Between those two mountain ranges one should understand Mount Meru to be situated—where the region called Ilāvṛta lies—placed to the south of the Nīla mountain and to the north of the Niṣadha mountain.

Word by Word

• तयोः (tayoḥ): of those two

• मध्ये (madhye): in the middle/between

• तु (tu): indeed

• विज्ञेयः (vijñeyaḥ): should be understood/known

• मेरुः (meruḥ): Mount Meru

• यत्र (yatra): where

• त्व् (tv): indeed/just (emphatic particle in sandhi)

• इलावृतम् (ilāvṛtam): Ilāvṛta (the central region)

• दक्षिणेन (dakṣiṇena): to the south of

• नीलस्य (nīlasya): of (Mount) Nīla

• निषधस्य (niṣadhasya): of (Mount) Niṣadha

• उत्तरेण (uttareṇa): to the north of

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Mount Meru
• Ilavrita
• Nila Mountain
• Nishadha Mountain

Tags

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

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a cosmographical placement of Mount Meru and Ilāvṛta within the Purāṇic world-map.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance by grounding pilgrimage, sacred directionality, and the idea of a divinely ordered world that kings protect and householders honor through rites and tīrtha-travel.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse provides cardinal orientation (north/south) and a sacred central axis (Meru), concepts later echoed in Vastu Shastra and temple planning where a central axis and directional alignment are ritually significant.