Shloka 45

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

परिमण्डलस्तु सुमहान् द्वीपो वै कुशसंज्ञकः नदीजलैः परिवृतः पर्वतश्चाभ्रसंनिभैः //

Transliteration

parimaṇḍalastu sumahān dvīpo vai kuśasaṃjñakaḥ nadījalaiḥ parivṛtaḥ parvataścābhrasaṃnibhaiḥ //

Translation

Round in form and exceedingly vast is the continent known as Kuśa; it is encircled by the waters of its rivers and bordered by mountains that resemble masses of cloud.

Word by Word

• परिमण्डलः: circular, ring-shaped

• तु: indeed/and

• सुमहान्: very great, exceedingly vast

• द्वीपः: continent/island

• वै: surely/verily

• कुशसंज्ञकः: named ‘Kuśa’

• नदीजलैः: by the waters of rivers

• परिवृतः: surrounded/encircled

• पर्वतैः: by mountains

• च: and

• अभ्रसंनिभैः: resembling clouds (dark, lofty, cloud-like).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating cosmography to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Kuśa-dvīpa
• Rivers (nadī)
• Mountains (parvata)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Dvīpas
• Sacred Geography
• Puranic Worldview
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s cosmographic mapping of the world, describing Kuśa-dvīpa as circular, vast, and bounded by rivers and cloud-like mountains.

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

Indirectly, such cosmographic passages ground dharma in a sacred worldview—kings and householders are encouraged to uphold order (dharma) within a universe portrayed as structured and bounded, though no specific royal or domestic duty is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is given, but the emphasis on a ‘circular’ (parimaṇḍala) form and clearly bounded space parallels Purāṇic preferences for ordered layouts used in sacred geography, pilgrimage imagination, and later schematic planning concepts.