Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Description of Himavat

Devanagari script

अल्पेन तपसा यत्र सिद्धिं प्राप्स्यन्ति तापसाः यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वकल्मषनाशनम् //

Transliteration

alpena tapasā yatra siddhiṃ prāpsyanti tāpasāḥ yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvakalmaṣanāśanam //

Translation

In that place, ascetics attain siddhi (spiritual accomplishment) even with little austerity; and merely by beholding it, all sins and impurities are destroyed.

Word by Word

• अल्पेन (alpena): with little

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity/penance

• यत्र (yatra): where

• सिद्धिं (siddhiṃ): accomplishment, spiritual success

• प्राप्स्यन्ति (prāpsyanti): will attain

• तापसाः (tāpasāḥ): ascetics

• यस्य (yasya): of which/whose

• दर्शनमात्रेण (darśanamātreṇa): by sight alone, merely by seeing

• सर्व-कल्मष-नाशनम् (sarva-kalmaṣa-nāśanam): the destroyer/remover of all defilements (sins).

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account of a holy place’s merit)

Entities Mentioned

• Tapas
• Siddhi
• Darshana
• Kalmasa (sin/impurity)

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Tapas
• Darshana-phala
• Punya
• Purification

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it emphasizes tirtha-mahātmyā—purification and rapid spiritual attainment through the power of a sacred place and its darśana.

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

It supports the dharmic ideal that householders and rulers should honor sacred places—through pilgrimage, patronage, and maintaining purity—since darśana itself is presented as a potent means of removing kalmaṣa (moral impurity).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural details are not specified, but the verse underlines a ritual principle: darśana (sacred sight) is itself efficacious—suggesting the importance of maintaining accessible, ritually pure sacred sites and shrines that facilitate transformative darśana.