Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

चिर्भिटस्य प्रतानैश्च पटोलीकारवेल्लकैः कर्कोटकीवितानैश्च वार्ताकैर् बृहतीफलैः //

Transliteration

cirbhiṭasya pratānaiśca paṭolīkāravellakaiḥ karkoṭakīvitānaiśca vārtākair bṛhatīphalaiḥ //

Translation

With the spreading vines of cirbhiṭa (cucumber), with paṭolī and kāravellaka (bitter gourd), with the canopy-like creepers of karkoṭakī, and with vārtāka (eggplant) bearing the fruits of bṛhatī (a large brinjal variety), the bower/trellis should be furnished.

Word by Word

• चिर्भिटस्य (cirbhiṭasya): of cucumber/cirbhiṭa

• प्रतानैः (pratānaiḥ): with spreadings, trailing vines

• च (ca): and

• पटोली (paṭolī): pointed gourd/snake gourd

• कारवेल्लकैः (kāravellakaiḥ): with bitter gourds (karela)

• कर्कोटकी (karkoṭakī): a gourd/creeper (often a spiny gourd type)

• वितानैः (vitānaiḥ): with canopies, with awnings/overhead spreads

• च (ca): and

• वार्ताकैः (vārtākaiḥ): with eggplants/brinjals

• बृहतीफलैः (bṛhatī-phalaiḥ): with large bṛhatī-type fruits (large brinjal variety)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the didactic Vastu/horticulture portion)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• cirbhiṭa
• paṭolī
• kāravellaka
• karkoṭakī
• vārtāka
• bṛhatī

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Gardens
• Horticulture
• Trellis
• Householder Dharma

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is practical guidance on arranging garden creepers and vegetables (a Vastu/horticulture instruction), not a Pralaya narrative.

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

It supports the householder/royal ideal of maintaining well-planned, productive gardens—linking aesthetics (shade-canopies of vines) with utility (edible vegetables), a common Purāṇic model of orderly prosperity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The term vitāna (“canopy/awning”) points to trellis-bower planning in Vastu contexts: creepers are selected to create overhead shade and structured green coverings as part of garden layout design.