Shloka 61

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायन्ते यत्र वै प्रजाः रतिप्रधाना विमला जायन्ते यत्र मानवाः शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे ते प्रियदर्शनाः //

Transliteration

varṣaṃ ramaṇakaṃ nāma jāyante yatra vai prajāḥ ratipradhānā vimalā jāyante yatra mānavāḥ śuklābhijanasampannāḥ sarve te priyadarśanāḥ //

Translation

There is a region (varṣa) called Ramaṇaka, where people are indeed born. The humans born there are chiefly devoted to love, pure in nature, endowed with noble and bright lineage, and all of them are pleasing to behold.

Word by Word

• वर्षम् (varṣam): a region/territorial division (varsha)

• रमणकम् (ramaṇakam): Ramaṇaka (proper name of a varsha)

• नाम (nāma): by name/called

• जायन्ते (jāyante): are born/come into being

• यत्र (yatra): where

• वै (vai): indeed

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ): creatures/people

• रतिप्रधानाः (ratipradhānāḥ): love/pleasure as foremost, inclined toward affection

• विमलाः (vimalāḥ): pure, untainted

• मानवाः (mānavāḥ): human beings

• शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः (śuklābhijanasampannāḥ): endowed with bright/white (i.e., pure, eminent) lineage and good family

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• ते (te): they

• प्रियदर्शनाः (priyadarśanāḥ): pleasing in appearance, lovely to look at

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the cosmographic description as taught in the Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Ramaṇaka-varṣa
• prajāḥ
• mānavāḥ

Tags

• Cosmography
• Jambudvipa
• Varsha
• Peoples
• Puranic Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a cosmographic note describing a named region (Ramaṇaka-varṣa) and the qualities of the people born there.

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

Indirectly, it presents an idealized social portrait—purity (vimala) and noble conduct implied by ‘good lineage’—which aligns with Purāṇic ethical expectations for householders and the kinds of virtues kings are urged to protect and cultivate in their realms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse functions as a descriptive catalog entry in Puranic geography rather than a temple-building or rite manual.