Shloka 18
Matsya Purana — Description of Himavat
समालब्धजलैः शृङ्गैः क्वचिच् चापि समुच्छ्रितैः नित्यार्कतापविषमैर् अगम्यैर्मनसा युतम् //
samālabdhajalaiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ kvacic cāpi samucchritaiḥ nityārkatāpaviṣamair agamyairmanasā yutam //
It is marked by peaks where water is obtained only scantily, and in places by summits rising high; it is rugged under the constant torment of the sun’s heat, and so inaccessible that even the mind can scarcely reach it in imagination.
FAQs
This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses intense natural imagery—scarce water, towering peaks, and relentless sun-heat—to portray an extreme, hard-to-reach landscape, a common Purāṇic style for sacred or formidable regions.
Indirectly, it frames pilgrimage and sacred travel as demanding disciplines: a householder or king undertaking tīrtha-yātrā must plan resources (water, route, timing) and cultivate endurance—virtues praised across Purāṇic dharma teachings.
No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; however, the emphasis on water scarcity and harsh sun suggests practical considerations for tīrtha-sites—such as locating water sources and providing shelters—often discussed elsewhere in Purāṇic temple and settlement guidance.