Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

श्लेष्मातकैर् आमलकैर् हरीतकविभीतकैः भूर्जैः समुञ्जकैर् बाणैर् वृक्षैः सप्तच्छदद्रुमैः //

Transliteration

śleṣmātakair āmalakair harītakavibhītakaiḥ bhūrjaiḥ samuñjakair bāṇair vṛkṣaiḥ saptacchadadrumaiḥ //

Translation

With śleṣmātaka trees, āmalaka, harītaka and vibhītaka; with bhūrja (birch), samuñjaka and bāṇa trees, and with saptacchada (the seven-leaved) trees—thus should the place be furnished and arranged.

Word by Word

• श्लेष्मातकैर् (śleṣmātakaiḥ): with śleṣmātaka trees (a timber/medicinal tree)

• आमलकैर् (āmalakaiḥ): with āmalaka (Indian gooseberry)

• हरीतक (harītaka): harītakī (chebulic myrobalan)

• विभीतकैः (vibhītakaiḥ): with vibhītaka (beleric myrobalan)

• भूर्जैः (bhūrjaiḥ): with bhūrja (birch/birch-bark tree)

• समुञ्जकैः (samuñjakaiḥ): with samuñjaka trees (a recognized plant/tree name used in ritual/landscaping lists)

• बाणैः (bāṇaiḥ): with bāṇa trees (a plant/tree name used in construction/ritual contexts)

• वृक्षैः (vṛkṣaiḥ): with trees

• सप्तच्छदद्रुमैः (saptacchada-drumaiḥ): with saptacchada trees (commonly identified with Alstonia scholaris, ‘seven-leaved’ tree)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Śleṣmātaka
• Āmalaka
• Harītakī
• Vibhītaka
• Bhūrja
• Saptacchada

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Sacred Trees
• Temple Architecture
• Ritual Materials
• Site Selection

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the Vastuvidya-style instructional material, listing auspicious trees used for sacred construction or site furnishing rather than cosmology or dissolution.

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

By prescribing proper, auspicious materials (trees/timber/ritual plants) for religious works, it supports the king’s and householder’s duty to build, maintain, and endow temples and public sacred spaces according to śāstric norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides an approved list of trees associated with purity, auspiciousness, and utility—suggesting which species may be planted, sourced, or used as materials in temple-site preparation and allied ritual-construction activities.