Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

आम्बिकेयात्परो रम्यः सर्वौषधिनिषेवितः विभ्राजस्तु समाख्यातः स्फाटिकस्तु महान्गिरिः //

Transliteration

āmbikeyātparo ramyaḥ sarvauṣadhiniṣevitaḥ vibhrājastu samākhyātaḥ sphāṭikastu mahāngiriḥ //

Translation

Beyond Ambikeya lies a delightful region, abundant in every kind of medicinal herb. There stands a great mountain known as Vibhrāja, and another mighty peak called Sphāṭika, the Crystal Mountain.

Word by Word

• āmbikeyāt: from Ambikeya (a place/region)

• paraḥ: beyond, further

• ramyaḥ: charming, delightful

• sarva-auṣadhi: all medicinal herbs

• niṣevitaḥ: inhabited by/abounding in, frequented with

• vibhrājaḥ: Vibhrāja (name of a mountain)

• tu: and/indeed

• samākhyātaḥ: is called, is renowned as

• sphāṭikaḥ: Sphāṭika (crystal

• tu: and/indeed

• mahān: great, mighty

• giriḥ: mountain

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s sacred geography (descriptive passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Ambikeya
• Vibhrāja
• Sphāṭika

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Mountains
• Tirtha
• Herbal Lore
• Puranic Topography

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a topographical description highlighting a region famed for medicinal herbs and notable mountains.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through sacred geography: rulers and householders are encouraged in the Purāṇas to protect resource-rich lands (especially medicinal flora) and to honor pilgrimage landscapes as part of righteous stewardship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual significance is implicit—such named mountains and herb-rich regions function as tīrtha/kshetra markers, guiding pilgrimage and sacred-site veneration.