Shloka 64

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Jambūdvīpa: Varṣas

Devanagari script

उत्तरेण तु श्वेतस्य पार्श्वे शृङ्गस्य दक्षिणे वर्षं हिरण्वतं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी //

Transliteration

uttareṇa tu śvetasya pārśve śṛṅgasya dakṣiṇe varṣaṃ hiraṇvataṃ nāma yatra hairaṇvatī nadī //

Translation

To the north of Mount Śveta, on the southern flank of the Śṛṅga peak, lies the region called Hiraṇvata, where the river Hairaṇvatī flows.

Word by Word

• उत्तरेण (uttareṇa): to the north of

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• श्वेतस्य (śvetasya): of Śveta (a mountain/peak)

• पार्श्वे (pārśve): at the side/flank

• शृङ्गस्य (śṛṅgasya): of the peak/Śṛṅga

• दक्षिणे (dakṣiṇe): on the southern side

• वर्षं (varṣaṃ): region/varṣa (territorial division)

• हिरण्वतं (hiraṇvataṃ): Hiraṇvata (name of the region)

• नाम (nāma): by name

• यत्र (yatra): where

• हैरण्वती (hairaṇvatī): Hairaṇvatī (name of a river)

• नदी (nadī): river

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s cosmographical description (traditionally within the Matsya–Manu discourse frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Śveta
• Śṛṅga
• Hiraṇvata
• Hairaṇvatī

Tags

• Cosmography
• Sacred Geography
• Jambudvipa
• Varsha
• Rivers

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to cosmography, mapping a named region (Hiraṇvata) and its river (Hairaṇvatī) relative to mountains/peaks.

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

Indirectly, such geographic catalogues frame the Purana’s sacred world-view—useful for kings and householders in understanding pilgrimage landscapes and the cultural idea of ordered territories, but no direct dharma rule is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or ritual procedure appears; the significance is topographical—locating a varṣa and river, which can contextualize later tīrtha (sacred site) or pilgrimage references.