Shloka 45

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

प्राग्ज्योतिषाश्च पुण्ड्राश्च विदेहास्ताम्रलिप्तकाः शाल्वमागधगोनर्दाः प्राच्या जनपदाः स्मृताः //

Transliteration

prāgjyotiṣāśca puṇḍrāśca videhāstāmraliptakāḥ śālvamāgadhagonardāḥ prācyā janapadāḥ smṛtāḥ //

Translation

Prāgjyotiṣa, Puṇḍra, Videha, and the people of Tāmraliptaka—together with the Śālvas, the Māgadhas, and the Gonardas—are remembered as the eastern (Prācya) provinces.

Word by Word

प्राग्ज्योतिषाः (prāgjyotiṣāḥ)the people of Prāgjyotiṣa (Pragjyotisha region)

पुण्ड्राः (puṇḍrāḥ)the Puṇḍras (Puṇḍra/Paundra region)

विदेहाः (videhāḥ)the Videhas (Mithilā/Videha region)

ताम्रलिप्तकाः (tāmraliptakāḥ)the people of Tāmralipti/Tāmraliptaka

शाल्व (śālva)the Śālvas (tribal/region name)

मागध (māgadha)the Māgadhas (Magadha people)

गोनर्दाः (gonardāḥ)the Gonardas (a named people/region)

प्राच्याः (prācyāḥ)eastern

जनपदाः (janapadāḥ)countries/provinces

स्मृताः (smṛtāḥ)are remembered/are traditionally listed

Speaker

Sūta (purāṇic narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s geographical catalogue

Entities Mentioned

PrāgjyotiṣaPuṇḍraVidehaTāmraliptakaŚālvaMāgadhaGonardaPrācya Janapadas

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s geographical catalogue, classifying specific peoples as eastern (Prācya) janapadas.

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

Indirectly, such janapada lists support rajadharma by mapping realms and peoples a king may govern, protect, tax, or ally with; the verse itself is descriptive rather than prescriptive.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; the significance is contextual—identifying regions (like Tāmralipti) that later tradition associates with trade routes and temple patronage, useful for historical and cultural indexing.