Shloka 89

Matsya Purana — Cosmography of Śākadvīpa and Successive Dvīpas: Mountains

Devanagari script

तासां सहस्रशश्चान्या नद्यः पार्श्वसमीपगाः अभिगच्छन्ति ता नद्यो बहुलाश्च बहूदकाः //

Transliteration

tāsāṃ sahasraśaścānyā nadyaḥ pārśvasamīpagāḥ abhigacchanti tā nadyo bahulāśca bahūdakāḥ //

Translation

And in their thousands, other rivers—running close alongside—flow into those rivers; they are many in number and rich in waters.

Word by Word

• तासाम् (tāsām): of those (rivers)

• सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ): by the thousands, in thousands

• च (ca): and

• अन्याः (anyāḥ): other

• नद्यः (nadyaḥ): rivers

• पार्श्व-समीप-गाः (pārśva-samīpa-gāḥ): going near the sides, flowing close by

• अभिगच्छन्ति (abhigacchanti): approach, flow into, join

• ताः (tāḥ): those

• नद्यः (nadyaḥ): rivers

• बहुलाः (bahulāḥ): numerous, abundant

• च (ca): and

• बहु-उदकाः (bahūdakāḥ): having much water, water-rich.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing sacred geography within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Nadyaḥ (Rivers)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Rivers
• Confluences
• Tirtha
• Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights the Purana’s sacred-geographical vision of a vast river system where countless tributaries join larger rivers, emphasizing abundance and interconnected flow.

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

By stressing many water-rich rivers and tributaries, the verse supports a dharmic ideal of stewardship: kings protect waterways and ensure irrigation and access, while householders honor rivers as life-supporting and ritually purifying resources.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, confluences and water-rich rivers are prime locations for tirtha practices—bathing, offerings, and ancestor rites; architecturally, such verses guide temple and ghat placement near stable, abundant water sources.