Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

हेमपर्वत इत्युक्तः स एव च महीधरः हरितालमयैः शृङ्गैर् द्वीपमावृत्य सर्वशः //

Transliteration

hemaparvata ityuktaḥ sa eva ca mahīdharaḥ haritālamayaiḥ śṛṅgair dvīpamāvṛtya sarvaśaḥ //

Translation

That very earth-bearing range is called Hema-parvata; with peaks made of haritāla (yellow orpiment), it encircles the island-continent on every side.

Word by Word

• हेमपर्वत (hemaparvata): “Hema-mountain,” the Golden Mountain

• इति (iti): thus

• उक्तः (uktaḥ): is called/said

• सः (saḥ): that

• एव (eva): indeed/very

• च (ca): and

• महीधरः (mahīdharaḥ): mountain, ‘earth-bearer’

• हरितालमयैः (haritālamayaiḥ): made of haritāla (yellow orpiment)

• शृङ्गैः (śṛṅgaiḥ): by peaks/summits

• द्वीपम् (dvīpam): the island-continent (dvīpa)

• आवृत्य (āvṛtya): having encircled/surrounded

• सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ): on all sides/everywhere.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing sacred geography (cosmography) in the Matsya Purāṇa narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Hemapārvaṭa (Hema-parvata)
• Haritāla (orpiment)
• Dvīpa

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Cosmography
• Mountains
• Dvipa
• Puranic World-Map

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it belongs to cosmographic mapping, portraying how a dvīpa is bounded by a defining mountain range (Hema-parvata) with mineral-like peaks.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic worldview that underlies dharma: kings and householders are taught to see the earth as a sacred, ordered realm with defined regions—useful for pilgrimage ideals, ritual orientation, and righteous governance tied to sacred geography.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, such cosmographic boundaries inform traditional sacred orientation and the idea of a ‘mandala-like’ ordered world; architecturally, it resonates with Vāstu’s emphasis on enclosing boundaries and directional completeness (surrounding ‘on all sides’), though no direct temple rule is stated in this verse.