Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

अङ्गा वङ्गा मद्गुरका अन्तर्गिरिबहिर्गिरी ततः प्लवंगमातंगा यमका मल्लवर्णकाः सुह्मोत्तराः प्रविजया मार्गवा गेयमालवाः //

Transliteration

aṅgā vaṅgā madgurakā antargiribahirgirī tataḥ plavaṃgamātaṃgā yamakā mallavarṇakāḥ suhmottarāḥ pravijayā mārgavā geyamālavāḥ //

Translation

The Angas, the Vangas, and the Madgurakas; those dwelling within the mountains and those outside the mountains; then the Plavaṅgas and Mātaṅgas; the Yamakas; the Mallavarṇakas; the Suhmas and the Uttaras; the Pravijayas; the Mārgavas; and the Geya-Mālavās.

Word by Word

aṅgāḥthe people/kingdom of Aṅga

vaṅgāḥthe people/kingdom of Vaṅga (Bengal region)

madgurakāḥthe Madgurakas (a named janapada/tribal group)

antargiri-bahirgirīthose within the hills and those outside the hills (mountain-dwellers and plain-dwellers)

tataḥthereafter/then

plavaṅga-mātaṅgāḥthe Plavaṅgas and the Mātaṅgas (named groups)

yamakāḥthe Yamakas (a named group)

mallavarṇakāḥthe Mallavarṇakas (a named group)

suhma-uttarāḥthe Suhmas and the Uttaras (named peoples/regions)

pravijayāḥthe Pravijayas (a named group)

mārgavāḥthe Mārgavas (a named group)

geya-mālavāḥthe Geya-Mālavās (a named group/branch of Mālava).

Speaker

Suta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s geographic catalogue (traditionally within the Matsya–Manu dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

AṅgaVaṅgaSuhmaMālava

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a geographic-ethnographic catalogue naming janapadas (regions/peoples) of Bharata and nearby areas.

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

Indirectly, such catalogues help frame a king’s realm, neighbors, and frontier peoples—useful for rajadharma themes like governance, taxation, alliances, and protection of diverse communities across hills and plains.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; however, the distinction of ‘within the mountains’ and ‘outside the mountains’ can be read as a geographic cue relevant to settlement planning and regional temple styles discussed elsewhere in the Matsya Purana.