Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

द्वीपार्धस्य परिक्षिप्तः पश्चिमे मानसो गिरिः स्थितो वेलासमीपे तु पूर्वचन्द्र इवोदितः //

Transliteration

dvīpārdhasya parikṣiptaḥ paścime mānaso giriḥ sthito velāsamīpe tu pūrvacandra ivoditaḥ //

Translation

On the western side, the Mānasā mountain lies encircling half of the island-region; and near the seashore it stands forth, rising like the moon appearing in the east.

Word by Word

• dvīpa-ardhasya: of half of the island/continent region

• parikṣiptaḥ: encircling, surrounding, encompassing

• paścime: in the west, on the western side

• mānasaḥ: Mānasā (name of a mountain)

• giriḥ: mountain

• sthitaḥ: situated, standing

• velā-samīpe: near the seashore/near the coastal boundary

• tu: and/indeed

• pūrva-candraḥ: the eastern moon (the moon as it rises in the east)

• iva: like, as if

• uditaḥ: risen, arisen, appearing.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s cosmographical description (bhūgola-varṇana)

Entities Mentioned

• Mānasa (mountain)
• Velā (seashore/coastal boundary)
• Dvīpa (island/continent)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Sacred Geography
• Mountains
• Dvipa Description
• Matsya Purana

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, mapping mountains and coastal boundaries to describe the ordered structure of the world.

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

Indirectly, such geographical catalogues support a king’s dharmic governance—knowing regions, boundaries, and sacred landscapes for administration, pilgrimage routes, and protection of coastal/frontier zones—though no explicit royal duty is stated in this verse.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is given; however, the imagery of coastal boundary (velā) and stable mountain placement reflects the Purana’s broader concern with auspicious orientation and site-sense that later informs temple-town planning in Matsya Purana Vastuvidya sections.