Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning

Devanagari script

रक्तैः पालीवनैः श्वेतैर् दाडिमैश्चम्पकद्रुमैः बन्धूकैश्च सुबन्धूकैः कुञ्जकानां तु जातिभिः //

Transliteration

raktaiḥ pālīvanaiḥ śvetair dāḍimaiścampakadrumaiḥ bandhūkaiśca subandhūkaiḥ kuñjakānāṃ tu jātibhiḥ //

Translation

And the enclosures or groves should be planted with red and white pālīvana trees, with pomegranates and champaka trees, with bandhūka and subandhūka flowers, and with various kinds suited to forming kuñja-groves—leafy bowers and shaded arbors.

Word by Word

• रक्तैः: with red (plants/flowers)

• पालीवनैः: with pālīvana trees (a named plant/tree used in garden layout)

• श्वेतैः: with white (plants/flowers)

• दाडिमैः: with pomegranates

• चम्पकद्रुमैः: with champaka trees

• बन्धूकैः: with bandhūka flowers

• च: and

• सुबन्धूकैः: with subandhūka (a variety of bandhūka)

• कुञ्जकानाम्: of bowers/arbors, leafy groves

• तु: indeed/and

• जातिभिः: with kinds/varieties/species.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s didactic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• pomegranate (dāḍima)
• champaka (campaka)
• bandhūka
• subandhūka
• kuñja (bower/grove)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Garden design
• Sacred groves
• Auspicious trees
• Town planning

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it belongs to a practical, prescriptive passage on auspicious landscaping—how to plant groves and bowers using specific trees and flowers.

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

It supports the king’s and householder’s duty to maintain orderly, auspicious, and pleasing settlements—gardens and groves are part of civic well-being, ritual purity, and the beautification of sacred and residential spaces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse functions as Vāstu-aligned landscaping guidance: selecting specific trees/flowers (champaka, pomegranate, bandhūka) and arranging them to form kuñjas (bowers) enhances the auspiciousness and aesthetic completeness of courtyards, groves, and planned enclosures.