Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

विमला चञ्चला चैव तथा च धूतवाहिनी शुक्तिमन्ती शुनी लज्जा मुकुटा ह्रादिकापि च ऋष्यवन्तप्रसूतास् ता नद्यो ऽमलजलाः शुभाः //

Transliteration

vimalā cañcalā caiva tathā ca dhūtavāhinī śuktimantī śunī lajjā mukuṭā hrādikāpi ca ṛṣyavantaprasūtās tā nadyo 'malajalāḥ śubhāḥ //

Translation

Vimalā, Cañcalā, and likewise Dhūtavāhinī; Śuktimantī, Śunī, Lajjā, Mukuṭā, and also Hrādikā—these rivers, born from Ṛṣyavanta, are auspicious, their waters pure and undefiled.

Word by Word

• vimalā: (the river named) Vimalā

• cañcalā: (the river named) Cañcalā

• ca eva: and indeed

• tathā ca: and also

• dhūtavāhinī: (the river named) Dhūtavāhinī, ‘she who carries away (dhūta) impurities’

• śuktimantī: (the river named) Śuktimantī

• śunī: (the river named) Śunī

• lajjā: (the river named) Lajjā

• mukuṭā: (the river named) Mukuṭā

• hrādikā api ca: and also (the river named) Hrādikā

• ṛṣyavanta-prasūtāḥ: sprung/issued from Ṛṣyavanta

• tāḥ nadyaḥ: those rivers

• amala-jalāḥ: having stainless/pure waters

• śubhāḥ: auspicious, beneficent

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Ṛṣyavanta
• Vimalā
• Cañcalā
• Dhūtavāhinī
• Śuktimantī
• Śunī
• Lajjā
• Mukuṭā
• Hrādikā

Tags

• Sacred rivers
• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage geography
• Purification
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to sacred-geography material, identifying auspicious rivers and emphasizing the purity (amala-jala) of their waters rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By naming rivers as ‘auspicious’ and ‘pure-watered,’ the text supports the householder/kingly practice of tīrtha-bathing and honoring sacred waters—acts associated with personal purification, merit (puṇya), and public religious patronage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is the sanctity of specific rivers—useful for planning tīrtha observances (snāna, tarpaṇa). Architecturally, such river-lists inform where ghāṭas, shrines, and pilgrimage infrastructure may be established, though no direct Vāstu rule is stated in this verse.