Shloka 71

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

धूतपापा नदी नाम योनिश्चैव पुनः स्मृता सीता द्वितीया विज्ञेया सा चैव हि निशा स्मृता //

Transliteration

dhūtapāpā nadī nāma yoniścaiva punaḥ smṛtā sītā dvitīyā vijñeyā sā caiva hi niśā smṛtā //

Translation

A river is known as Dhūtapāpā (“the washer-away of sins”); it is also remembered again by the name Yonī. The second is to be understood as Sītā, and that same one is also remembered as Niśā.

Word by Word

• dhūta-pāpā: ‘sins washed away’ (name of a river)

• nadī: river

• nāma: by the name/called

• yonī: Yoni (a place-name/river-name)

• ca eva: and indeed/also

• punaḥ: again

• smṛtā: remembered/recorded

• sītā: Sītā (name of a river)

• dvitīyā: the second

• vijñeyā: should be understood/known

• sā: that (river)

• ca eva hi: and indeed also

• niśā: Niśā (name of a river)

• smṛtā: remembered.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on sacred geography (tirtha and river-name traditions)

Entities Mentioned

• Dhutapapa
• Yoni
• Sita
• Nisha

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Nadi-nama
• Punya
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a tirtha-style catalog noting alternate traditional names of rivers, emphasizing their purifying (sin-removing) status.

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

By preserving and teaching recognized tirtha and river-name traditions, a king supports dharma and pilgrimage culture; householders gain a practical cue for merit (puṇya) through reverence and bathing/ritual association with such rivers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the identification of rivers as purifiers and the correct recognition of their alternate names—useful for sankalpa (ritual intent statements) and pilgrimage rites, though no Vastu or temple-building rule is specified here.