Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Description of Himavat

Devanagari script

हिमछत्त्रमहाशृङ्गं प्रपातशतनिर्झरम् शब्दलभ्याम्बुविषमं हिमसंरुद्धकन्दरम् //

Transliteration

himachattramahāśṛṅgaṃ prapātaśatanirjharam śabdalabhyāmbuviṣamaṃ himasaṃruddhakandaram //

Translation

It has lofty peaks crowned with snowy canopies, and is filled with hundreds of cascading falls and streams—its waters hard to approach except by following their sound, and its caves and ravines blocked in by ice and snow.

Word by Word

• हिमछत्त्रमहाशृङ्गम्: great-peaked (mountain) with snow as a canopy

• प्रपातशतनिर्झरम्: having hundreds of waterfalls and cascades

• शब्दलभ्य-अम्बु: water reachable (found) by sound

• विषमम्: difficult, uneven, treacherous

• हिमसंरुद्धकन्दरम्: whose caves/gorges are obstructed by snow/ice

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account; descriptive narration within the dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Himālaya

Tags

• Tirtha
• Himalaya
• Sacred Geography
• Pilgrimage
• Landscape

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it poetically maps a Himalayan sacred landscape—snow-crowned peaks, waterfalls, and ice-blocked caves—typical of tīrtha (pilgrimage) descriptions rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of pilgrimage and reverence for sacred places: a householder or ruler is encouraged to protect such regions, facilitate safe access, and uphold dharma by honoring tīrthas and ascetics dwelling in difficult terrain.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it implies a site’s natural constraints (uneven ground, water access by sound, snow-blocked caves), useful when selecting or approaching a sacred spot; ritually, it frames the tīrtha’s austerity and remoteness as part of its sanctity.