Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

संपश्यन्परमां प्रीतिम् अवाप वसुधाधिपः सरांसि तत्र दिव्यानि नद्यश्च विमलोदकाः //

Transliteration

saṃpaśyanparamāṃ prītim avāpa vasudhādhipaḥ sarāṃsi tatra divyāni nadyaśca vimalodakāḥ //

Translation

Beholding these, the lord of the earth attained supreme delight; for there were divine lakes there, and rivers whose waters were perfectly pure.

Word by Word

• संपश्यन् (saṃpaśyan): beholding, observing

• परमाम् (paramām): supreme, highest

• प्रीतिम् (prītim): joy, delight

• अवाप (avāpa): obtained, attained

• वसुधाधिपः (vasudhādhipaḥ): lord of the earth, king

• सरांसि (sarāṃsi): lakes, ponds

• तत्र (tatra): there

• दिव्यानि (divyāni): divine, celestial, wondrous

• नद्यः (nadyaḥ): rivers

• च (ca): and

• विमलोदकाः (vimalodakāḥ): having pure/spotless water

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the king’s experience within a sacred landscape

Entities Mentioned

• Vasudhādhipa (the king)
• Divya Sarāṃsi (divine lakes)
• Vimala-nadyaḥ (pure rivers)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Purity
• Kingship
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights an ideal sacred terrain—divine lakes and pure rivers—often treated in the Purāṇas as signs of cosmic order and auspiciousness rather than dissolution.

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

A king’s role includes protecting tīrthas and maintaining the purity of waters; the verse links righteous rulership with delight found in dharmic, well-preserved sacred landscapes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, pure (vimala) water is essential for स्नान (snāna), आचमन (ācamana), and deity worship; in Vāstu/temple contexts, proximity to clean water sources is considered highly auspicious for sacred sites.