Shloka 35

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

शूरसेना भद्रकारा बाह्याः सहपटच्चराः मत्स्याः किराताः कुल्याश्च कुन्तलाः काशिकोशलाः //

Transliteration

śūrasenā bhadrakārā bāhyāḥ sahapaṭaccarāḥ matsyāḥ kirātāḥ kulyāśca kuntalāḥ kāśikośalāḥ //

Translation

The Śūrasenas, the Bhadrakāras, the Bāhyas, the Sahapaṭaccaras; the Matsyas, the Kirātas, the Kulyas, the Kuntalas, and the Kāśi–Kośalas—these peoples and regions are thus enumerated.

Word by Word

śūrasenāḥthe Śūrasena people/realm

bhadrakārāḥthe Bhadrakāras (a people/region)

bāhyāḥthe Bāhyas (outsiders/ a named tribe)

sahapaṭaccarāḥthe Sahapaṭaccaras (a named group, likely a regional tribe)

matsyāḥthe Matsyas (people/kingdom of Matsya)

kirātāḥthe Kirātas (mountain/forest tribes)

kulyāḥthe Kulyas (a people/region)

kuntalāḥthe Kuntalas (southern region/people)

kāśikośalāḥthe Kāśis and Kośalas (eastern-northern realms)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) reporting the Matsya Purana’s geographic catalogue (likely in dialogue-context addressed to a listener such as Manu, but this verse functions as a list).

Entities Mentioned

ŚūrasenaBhadrakāraBāhyaSahapaṭaccaraMatsya (people/kingdom)KirātaKulyaKuntalaKāśiKośala

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a geographic-ethnographic enumeration of janapadas (regions/peoples) preserved in the Purana’s world-description section.

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

Indirectly, it supports rajadharma by identifying recognized peoples and realms—useful for a king’s awareness of neighboring polities, alliances, and the broader cultural geography referenced in Puranic governance narratives.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule appears here; the verse functions as a catalogue of peoples/regions, which later tradition can use for contextualizing pilgrimage routes, temple patronage zones, or regional ritual practices.