Shloka 70

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

तत्रापि नद्यः सप्तैव प्रतिवर्षं हि ताः स्मृताः द्विनामवत्यस्ताः सर्वाः सर्वाः पुण्यजलाः स्मृताः //

Transliteration

tatrāpi nadyaḥ saptaiva prativarṣaṃ hi tāḥ smṛtāḥ dvināmavatyastāḥ sarvāḥ sarvāḥ puṇyajalāḥ smṛtāḥ //

Translation

There too, the rivers are remembered as just seven in each varṣa, recurring year after year. All of them bear double names, and all are regarded as waters of sacred merit.

Word by Word

• tatra api: there also

• nadyaḥ: rivers

• sapta eva: only seven

• prativarṣam: every year/annually

• hi: indeed

• tāḥ: those (rivers)

• smṛtāḥ: are remembered/are traditionally stated

• dvināmavatyāḥ: having two names, double-named

• sarvāḥ: all

• puṇya-jalāḥ: waters that bestow merit/sacred waters

• smṛtāḥ: are held to be/are declared in tradition

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s sacred-geography teaching (traditionally in dialogue context of Matsya → Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Seven rivers (sapta-nadyaḥ)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Punya-jala
• Pilgrimage
• Matsya Purana Geography

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on sacred geography—identifying a traditional set of seven rivers whose sanctity is affirmed as perennial (recognized year after year).

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

It supports dharma through tīrtha-practice: a householder (and a king guiding public religion) gains and promotes merit via reverence for holy rivers—especially ritual bathing and pilgrimage to acknowledged sacred waters.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights puṇya-jala—waters suitable for स्नान (bathing), तर्पण (offerings to ancestors), and purification rites; it does not give specific Vāstu or temple-building rules in this verse.