Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Description of Gomedaka and Puṣkara Dvīpas; the Lokāloka Boundary; Ocean Tide...

Devanagari script

एतैः पर्वतपादैस्तु स देशो वै द्विधाकृतः दक्षिणार्धं तु द्वीपस्य धातकीखण्डमुच्यते //

Transliteration

etaiḥ parvatapādaistu sa deśo vai dvidhākṛtaḥ dakṣiṇārdhaṃ tu dvīpasya dhātakīkhaṇḍamucyate //

Translation

By these mountain-foot ranges, that region is indeed divided into two. The southern half of the island-continent is called Dhātakīkhaṇḍa.

Word by Word

• एतैः (etaiḥ): by these

• पर्वतपादैः (parvatapādaiḥ): by the foothills/feet of the mountains, by mountain-base ranges

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• स (sa): that

• देशः (deśaḥ): region/country

• वै (vai): verily/indeed

• द्विधाकृतः (dvidhākṛtaḥ): made into two, divided in two

• दक्षिणार्धम् (dakṣiṇārdham): the southern half

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• द्वीपस्य (dvīpasya): of the dvīpa (island-continent)

• धातकीखण्डम् (dhātakīkhaṇḍam): Dhātakīkhaṇḍa (a named division/khanda)

• उच्यते (ucyate): is called/is said to be.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (cosmographic narration context)

Entities Mentioned

• Dhātakīkhaṇḍa
• Dvīpa
• Parvata (mountain ranges)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Dvipa Geography
• Puranic World Map
• Khanda Division
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s cosmography, explaining how mountain ranges mark boundaries that divide a dvīpa into named regions.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic governance by defining sacred geography and territorial divisions—background knowledge used in Purāṇic thought for understanding realms, pilgrimage networks, and the ordered structure of the world.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the key takeaway is geographical classification (khanda/region naming), which can inform pilgrimage orientation and the Purāṇic “mapping” of sacred space.