Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

तापी पयोष्णी निर्विन्ध्या क्षिप्रा च ऋषभा नदी वेणा वैतरणी चैव विश्वमाला कुमुद्वती //

Transliteration

tāpī payoṣṇī nirvindhyā kṣiprā ca ṛṣabhā nadī veṇā vaitaraṇī caiva viśvamālā kumudvatī //

Translation

Tāpī, Payoṣṇī, Nirvindhyā, and also Kṣiprā; the river Ṛṣabhā; Veṇā; and likewise Vaitaraṇī; (as well as) Viśvamālā and Kumudvatī—these are the revered rivers.

Word by Word

• तापी (tāpī): the Tapi (Tapti) River

• पयोष्णी (payoṣṇī): the Payoshni River

• निर्विन्ध्या (nirvindhyā): the Nirvindhya River

• क्षिप्रा (kṣiprā): the Kshipra River

• च (ca): and

• ऋषभा (ṛṣabhā): Rishabha (name of a river)

• नदी (nadī): river

• वेणा (veṇā): the Vena River

• वैतरणी (vaitaraṇī): the Vaitarani River

• चैव (caiva): and indeed/also

• विश्वमाला (viśvamālā): Vishvamala (name of a river)

• कुमुद्वती (kumudvatī): Kumudvati (name of a river)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s sacred geography section; verses list rivers as part of the discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Tāpī (Tapti River)
• Payoṣṇī River
• Nirvindhyā River
• Kṣiprā River
• Ṛṣabhā River
• Veṇā River
• Vaitaraṇī River
• Viśvamālā River
• Kumudvatī River

Tags

• Sacred Rivers
• Tirtha
• Punya
• Nadi-stuti
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it functions as a sacred-geography catalogue, naming rivers regarded as purifying and pilgrimage-worthy in the Matsya Purana’s tīrtha context.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through tīrtha-yātrā and ritual purity: householders (and kings as patrons) are encouraged in Purāṇic tradition to honor sacred rivers via bathing, offerings, and supporting pilgrimage routes and shrines.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse itself is a river list, but its ritual implication is tīrtha-snāna (sacred bathing) and related offerings; such river sanctity often underlies temple siting near watercourses in Purāṇic practice.