Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

शालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च कर्णिकारैः सशामलैः न्यग्रोधैश्च तथाश्वत्थैः शिरीषैः शिंशपद्रुमैः //

Transliteration

śālaistālaistamālaiśca karṇikāraiḥ saśāmalaiḥ nyagrodhaiśca tathāśvatthaiḥ śirīṣaiḥ śiṃśapadrumaiḥ //

Translation

It was filled with śāla trees, palms, and tamālas; with karṇikāras and śyāmalas; and also with nyagrodhas (banyans) and aśvatthas, with śirīṣas and śiṃśapā trees.

Word by Word

• शालैः (śālaiḥ): with śāla trees

• तालैः (tālaiḥ): with palm trees

• तमालैः (tamālaiḥ): with tamāla trees

• च (ca): and

• कर्णिकारैः (karṇikāraiḥ): with karṇikāra trees (golden-flowering trees)

• सशामलैः (sa-śāmalaiḥ): together with śyāmala/śāmala trees

• न्यग्रोधैः (nyagrodhaiḥ): with banyan trees

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

• अश्वत्थैः (aśvatthaiḥ): with aśvattha (sacred fig) trees

• शिरीषैः (śirīṣaiḥ): with śirīṣa trees

• शिंशपद्रुमैः (śiṃśapadrumaiḥ): with śiṃśapā trees

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the setting within the Matsya Purana’s sacred-geography narration

Entities Mentioned

• Śāla
• Tāla (Palm)
• Tamāla
• Karṇikāra
• Śyāmala/Śāmala
• Nyagrodha (Banyan)
• Aśvattha (Sacred fig)
• Śirīṣa
• Śiṃśapā

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Forest Description
• Tirtha Context
• Puranic Ecology
• Kshetra-Mahatmya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious vegetation and a flourishing landscape, a typical feature of tīrtha/kshetra descriptions rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By highlighting sacred and beneficial trees (like nyagrodha and aśvattha), the verse supports the Purāṇic ideal that kings and householders should protect groves, maintain clean sacred places, and support dharmic ecology through conservation and planting.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not giving direct building rules, the listing of auspicious trees aligns with Vāstu and tīrtha conventions: temple precincts and sacred sites are traditionally associated with specific trees (especially aśvattha and nyagrodha) used for worship, shade, and sanctifying the locale.