Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

नागलोकोद्भवं दिव्यं नरलोकभवं च यत् अनूपोत्थं वनोत्थं च तत्र यन्नास्ति पार्थिवः //

Transliteration

nāgalokodbhavaṃ divyaṃ naralokabhavaṃ ca yat anūpotthaṃ vanotthaṃ ca tatra yannāsti pārthivaḥ //

Translation

Whatever is of divine origin, whatever arises from the Nāga-world, whatever is produced in the human world, and whatever is born of marshlands or forests—among these, O king, one should distinguish that which is not ‘earth-born’ (i.e., not a terrestrial/mineral product).

Word by Word

• nāga-loka-udbhavam: arising from the Nāga-world (serpentine/nether realm)

• divyam: divine, celestial

• nara-loka-bhavam: produced in the human world

• yat: whatever/which

• anūpa-uttham: arising from marshy or watery lowlands

• vana-uttham: arising from forests

• ca: and

• tatra: among/therein

• yat: that which

• na asti: is not

• pārthivaḥ: earthly, terrestrial

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, Vastu/ritual-material classification context)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu
• Nāga-loka
• Nara-loka

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Materials
• Ritual classification
• Cosmology
• Iconography resources

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya directly; it reflects a Puranic cosmology used for practical classification—recognizing multiple realms (divine, Nāga-world, human) and habitats (marsh, forest) as sources of substances.

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

It supports the duty of proper procurement and discernment: a king or householder should source and categorize materials correctly for rites, gifts, construction, and consecrations—distinguishing what is terrestrial (pārthiva) from other-origin substances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides a sourcing taxonomy used in Vastu/ritual contexts: materials are evaluated by origin (realm/habitat), and ‘non-pārthiva’ items are treated as a distinct class when choosing substances for temple building, icons, or consecratory rites.