Shloka 48

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

गन्धमादनपार्श्वे तु पश्चिमे ऽमरगण्डिकः द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि योजनैः सर्वतः समः //

Transliteration

gandhamādanapārśve tu paścime 'maragaṇḍikaḥ dvātriṃśacca sahasrāṇi yojanaiḥ sarvataḥ samaḥ //

Translation

To the west, beside Gandhamādana, lies (the mountain or region called) Amaragaṇḍika; it extends uniformly on all sides for thirty-two thousand yojanas.

Word by Word

• गन्धमादन-पार्श्वे: beside/near Gandhamādana

• तु: indeed/and

• पश्चिमे: in the west

• अमरगण्डिकः: Amaragaṇḍika (a proper name of a mountain/region)

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two

• च: and

• सहस्राणि: thousands

• योजनैः: by yojanas (measure of distance)

• सर्वतः: on all sides/everywhere

• समः: even, uniform, of equal extent

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s cosmographic description (traditional dialogue frame ultimately sourced to Lord Matsya’s instruction)

Entities Mentioned

• Gandhamādana
• Amaragaṇḍika
• Yojana

Tags

• Cosmography
• Sacred Geography
• Mountains
• Puranic Measurements
• Jambudvipa

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to cosmographic mapping, giving the location and standardized extent of a named region/mountain using yojana measurements.

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

Indirectly, such geographic catalogues support a king’s ideal of knowing the world’s sacred layout (tīrthas, mountains, realms) for pilgrimage, patronage, and dharmic governance, though no direct duty is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The technical element is measurement (yojana) and directional placement (west of Gandhamādana), reflecting the Purāṇic habit of precise spatial description—useful as a conceptual backdrop for later Vāstu/mandala thinking, though no temple rule is specified in this verse.