Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

वाह्लीका वाटधानाश्च आभीराः कालतोयकाः पुरंध्राश्चैव शूद्राश्च पल्लवाश् चात्तखण्डिकाः //

Transliteration

vāhlīkā vāṭadhānāśca ābhīrāḥ kālatoyakāḥ puraṃdhrāścaiva śūdrāśca pallavāś cāttakhaṇḍikāḥ //

Translation

The Vāhlīkas, the Vāṭadhānas, the Ābhīras, the Kālatoyakas, the Puraṃdhras, the Śūdras, the Pallavas, and the Āttakhaṇḍikas are likewise enumerated among the peoples and regions.

Word by Word

• vāhlīkāḥ: the Vāhlīkas (people of Bāhlīka/Bactria region)

• vāṭadhānāḥ: the Vāṭadhānas (a named tribe/people)

• ābhīrāḥ: the Ābhīras (pastoral tribe/people)

• kālatoyakāḥ: the Kālatoyakas (people associated with the Kālatoyā region/river)

• puraṃdhrāḥ: the Puraṃdhras (a named group/people)

• śūdrāḥ: Śūdras (a social class

• pallavāḥ: the Pallavas (a people/dynastic group)

• āttakhaṇḍikāḥ: the Āttakhaṇḍikas (a named group/people)

• ca/caiva: and

• -śca: and (enclitic conjunction)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s geographical/ethnographic catalog in the Purāṇic discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Vāhlīkas
• Vāṭadhānas
• Ābhīras
• Kālatoyakas
• Puraṃdhras
• Śūdras
• Pallavas
• Āttakhaṇḍikas

Tags

• Matsya Purana geography
• Ancient Indian tribes
• Janapada list
• Ethnography
• Puranic regions

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is part of a geographic/ethnographic enumeration of peoples (janapadas), not a Pralaya (cosmic dissolution) passage.

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

Indirectly: by naming peoples and regions, it supports a king’s understanding of realms, frontier groups, and sociopolitical geography—useful for governance, diplomacy, and protection, though no explicit dharma rule is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it functions as a catalog of tribes/peoples rather than temple architecture rules or rites.