Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

नीलोत्पलैः सकह्लारैर् गुञ्जातककसेरुकैः शृङ्गाटकमृणालैश्च करटै राजतोत्पलैः //

Transliteration

nīlotpalaiḥ sakahlārair guñjātakakaserukaiḥ śṛṅgāṭakamṛṇālaiśca karaṭai rājatotpalaiḥ //

Translation

With blue lotuses nīlotpala, together with white kahlāra lotuses; with guñjā-like aquatic plants and the fragrant kaseru; and also with water-chestnuts, lotus-stalks, karaṭa plants, and shining silver-white lotuses—the pond should be adorned.

Word by Word

• nīlotpalaiḥ: with blue lotuses

• sa-kahlāraiḥ: together with kahlāra lotuses (white water-lilies)

• guñjātaka: guñjā-like aquatic growth/plant (a named ornamental species)

• kaserukaiḥ: with kaseru (fragrant aquatic plant/water-lily, often linked with edible rhizome)

• śṛṅgāṭaka: water-chestnut (Trapa)

• mṛṇālaiḥ: with lotus-stalks/fibrous lotus stems

• ca: and

• karaṭaiḥ: with karaṭa plants (an aquatic/pond plant used ornamentally)

• rājata-utpalaiḥ: with silver-white/shining lotuses (white lotuses)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Utpala (lotus)
• Kahlara
• Kaseru
• Śṛṅgāṭaka
• Mṛṇāla

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Gardens
• Sacred Ponds
• Ritual Landscaping
• Auspicious Flora

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives Vastu-oriented instructions for beautifying and sanctifying a water body (pushkariṇī) using auspicious aquatic plants.

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

It supports the duty of public welfare and religious merit: commissioning clean, beautiful ponds with auspicious flora benefits communities, supports ritual purity, and enhances sacred spaces—an ideal royal/householder act of dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies recommended aquatic plantings for a sacred pond—lotuses, water-lilies, water-chestnuts, and lotus-stalks—indicating that ritual landscapes are to be deliberately designed for purity, beauty, and auspiciousness in Vastu practice.