Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

नाम्ना गतभयं नाम वर्षं तत्प्रथमं स्मृतम् द्वितीयं जलधारस्य सुकुमारमिति स्मृतम् //

Transliteration

nāmnā gatabhayaṃ nāma varṣaṃ tatprathamaṃ smṛtam dvitīyaṃ jaladhārasya sukumāramiti smṛtam //

Translation

By name, the first region (varṣa) is remembered as Gatabhaya (“Fearless”); and the second—belonging to Jaladhārā—is remembered as Sukumāra (“Tender/Delicate”).

Word by Word

• nāmnā: by name

• gatabhayam: ‘Gatabhaya’ (lit. fear-departed, fearless)

• nāma: called/named

• varṣam: a varṣa, region/division of land

• tat: that

• prathamam: first

• smṛtam: is remembered/recorded

• dvitīyam: second

• jaladhārasya: of Jaladhāra (a named figure/lineage/region-lord in the cosmographical list)

• sukumāram: ‘Sukumāra’ (lit. very tender/delicate

• iti: thus

• smṛtam: is remembered/recorded

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) conveying the cosmographical account within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Gatabhaya
• Jaladhāra
• Sukumāra

Tags

• Cosmography
• Bhuvana-kosha
• Jambudvipa
• Varsha-names
• Puranic geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it belongs to the cosmographical catalogue that maps the ordered divisions of the world (varṣas) by name, implying a structured cosmos rather than dissolution.

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

Indirectly, such geographic listings support the Purana’s broader ideal of righteous governance: knowing the realm’s divisions and traditional names reflects orderly administration and adherence to received sacred knowledge (smṛti/itihāsa-purāṇa tradition).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated, but cosmographical naming is often used as a backdrop for orientation and sacred geography—useful when aligning temples/ritual spaces with the Purāṇic vision of the world.