Shloka 52

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

प्रथमः सूर्यसंकाशः कुमुदो नाम पर्वतः विद्रुमोच्चय इत्युक्तः स एव च महीधरः //

Transliteration

prathamaḥ sūryasaṃkāśaḥ kumudo nāma parvataḥ vidrumoccaya ityuktaḥ sa eva ca mahīdharaḥ //

Translation

The first is the mountain named Kumuda, radiant like the sun; it is also spoken of as Vidrumoccaya (“the Coral-Peak”), and it is indeed a mighty mountain-supporter of the earth.

Word by Word

• prathamaḥ: the first

• sūrya-saṃkāśaḥ: sun-like in brilliance, radiant like the sun

• kumudaḥ: Kumuda (proper name of a mountain)

• nāma: by name

• parvataḥ: mountain

• vidruma: coral

• uccayaḥ: heap, accumulation, peak/mass

• vidrumoccayaḥ: ‘Coral-peak/Coral-mass’ (epithet/name)

• iti: thus

• uktaḥ: is said, is called

• saḥ eva: that very one

• ca: and/also

• mahīdharaḥ: earth-holder, great mountain

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual cosmography narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Kumuda (mountain)
• Vidrumoccaya (epithet of the mountain)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Cosmography
• Mountains
• Jambudvipa
• Puranic Topography

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it belongs to cosmography, listing and characterizing a major mountain as an ‘earth-holder’ (mahīdhara), a stabilizing feature of the world’s structure.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic aim of knowing the world’s sacred layout; such knowledge underpins pilgrimage, land sanctification, and righteous governance tied to maintaining order in one’s realm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu rule is given, but the imagery of a radiant, stable ‘mahīdhara’ aligns with the ritual-architectural ideal of firmness and auspicious brilliance when selecting sacred sites and orienting consecrated spaces.