Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

तत्रास्ति राजञ्छिखरं पर्वतेन्द्रस्य पाण्डुरम् हिमपातं घना यत्र कुर्वन्ति सहिताः सदा //

Transliteration

tatrāsti rājañchikharaṃ parvatendrasya pāṇḍuram himapātaṃ ghanā yatra kurvanti sahitāḥ sadā //

Translation

There, O King, stands a pale-white summit of the lord of mountains, where dense clouds, gathered together, continually bring about snowfall.

Word by Word

• तत्र (tatra): there

• अस्ति (asti): there is/stands

• राजन् (rājan): O King

• शिखरम् (chikharaṃ): peak, summit

• पर्वतेन्द्रस्य (parvatendrasya): of the lord of mountains (Himalaya)

• पाण्डुरम् (pāṇḍuram): pale, white

• हिमपातम् (himapātam): fall of snow, snowfall

• घनाः (ghanāḥ): clouds

• यत्र (yatra): where

• कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti): they make, they cause

• सहिताः (sahitāḥ): united, gathered together

• सदा (sadā): always.

Speaker

• Primary narrator addressing a King (likely Sūta/teacher-figure within the Matsya Purana’s discourse frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Himalaya (Parvatendra)
• King (Rajan)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Himalaya
• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Nature Description
• Puranic Cosmography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes a Himalayan summit where clouds perpetually produce snowfall, emphasizing sacred geography rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By addressing the listener as “O King,” the text models the king’s role as a patron and learner of dharma through knowledge of sacred places and the celebrated geography of the realm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the takeaway is contextual—such descriptions often frame tīrtha regions where later verses may prescribe pilgrimage, worship, or site selection for shrines.