Shloka 43

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

अत्रयो ऽथ भरद्वाजाः प्रस्थलाः सदसेरकाः लम्पकास् तलगानाश्च सैनिकाः सह जाङ्गलैः एते देशा उदीच्यास्तु प्राच्यान्देशान्निबोधत //

Transliteration

atrayo 'tha bharadvājāḥ prasthalāḥ sadaserakāḥ lampakās talagānāśca sainikāḥ saha jāṅgalaiḥ ete deśā udīcyāstu prācyāndeśānnibodhata //

Translation

Now, the Atrayas, the Bharadvājas, the Prasthalas, the Sadaserakas, the Lampākas, the Talagānas, and the Sainikas—together with the Jāṅgalas—these are the northern (udīcya) regions. Next, understand the eastern (prācya) countries.

Word by Word

• atrayaḥ: the Atrayas (a people/lineage group)

• atha: now/then

• bharadvājāḥ: the Bharadvājas (a people associated with Bharadvāja)

• prasthalāḥ: the Prasthalas (a regional group)

• sadaserakāḥ: the Sadaserakas (a people/tribe)

• lampakāḥ: the Lampākas (people of Lampāka region)

• talagānāḥ: the Talagānas (a people/region)

• sainikāḥ: the Sainikas (a group/people, lit. ‘soldier-like’)

• saha: together with

• jāṅgalaiḥ: with the Jāṅgalas (people of arid/forest-steppe tracts)

• ete: these

• deśāḥ: countries/regions

• udīcyāḥ: northern

• tu: indeed/and

• prācyān: eastern

• deśān: regions/countries

• nibodhata: know/understand (listen and take note).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Atrayas
• Bharadvajas
• Prasthalas
• Sadaserakas
• Lampakas
• Talaganas
• Sainikas
• Jangalas

Tags

• Matsya Purana geography
• Ancient Indian tribes
• Udichya regions
• Puranic ethnography
• Pracya countries

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it functions as a geographic-ethnographic catalog, classifying certain peoples/regions as “northern (udīcya)” and transitioning to the “eastern (prācya)” list.

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

Indirectly, such regional lists support a king’s rajadharma by mapping peoples and territories—useful for governance, diplomacy, taxation, and knowing frontier groups—though no direct ethical injunction is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the significance is classificatory—preserving traditional knowledge of janapadas/tribes that later informs pilgrimage routes, territorial descriptions, and temple-land endowment records.