Shloka 59

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

षष्ठस्तु पर्वतस्तत्र महिषो मेघसंनिभः स एव तु पुनः प्रोक्तो हरिरित्यभिविश्रुतः //

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭhastu parvatastatra mahiṣo meghasaṃnibhaḥ sa eva tu punaḥ prokto harirityabhiviśrutaḥ //

Translation

There, the sixth mountain is called Mahiṣa, dark and cloud-like in appearance; and that very one is again declared to be Hari (Viṣṇu) himself, renowned by that name.

Word by Word

षष्ठःthe sixth

तुand/indeed

पर्वतःmountain

तत्रthere/in that place

महिषःMahiṣa (name of the mountain

मेघ-संनिभःresembling a cloud, cloud-dark

सः एवthat very one

तु पुनःagain, moreover

प्रोक्तःsaid/declared

हरिःHari (Viṣṇu)

इतिthus

अभिविश्रुतःwidely famed/celebrated

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing a sacred-geography list within the Matsya Purāṇa’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

Hari (Vishnu)Mahiṣa (mountain)

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it belongs to sacred geography, identifying a specific mountain (Mahiṣa) with Hari (Viṣṇu), emphasizing divine presence in the landscape rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of dharmic life through tīrtha-yātrā and reverence for sacred places: rulers and householders are encouraged to honor and protect holy sites and uphold pilgrimage traditions tied to Viṣṇu.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the sanctification of a mountain as Hari—typically implying worship, offerings, and pilgrimage observances at that site as a Viṣṇu-associated kṣetra.