Shloka 52

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

मालवाश्च करूषाश्च मेकलाश्चोत्कलैः सह औण्ड्रा माषा दशार्णाश्च भोजाः किष्किन्धकैः सह //

Transliteration

mālavāśca karūṣāśca mekalāścotkalaiḥ saha auṇḍrā māṣā daśārṇāśca bhojāḥ kiṣkindhakaiḥ saha //

Translation

Also (are found) the Mālavas and the Karūṣas; the Mekalas together with the Utkalas; the Auṇḍras, the Māṣas, the Daśārṇas, and the Bhojas, along with the people of Kiṣkindhā.

Word by Word

• मालवाः (mālavāḥ): the Mālava people/region

• च (ca): and

• करूषाः (karūṣāḥ): the Karūṣa people/region

• च (ca): and

• मेकलाः (mekalāḥ): the Mekala people/region

• उत्कलैः (utkalaiḥ): with the Utkalas (people of Utkala/Oḍiśā region)

• सह (saha): together with

• औण्ड्राः (auṇḍrāḥ): the Auṇḍras (people of Oḍra/Oḍiśā-Bengal fringe)

• माषाः (māṣāḥ): the Māṣas (a named tribe/people)

• दशार्णाः (daśārṇāḥ): the Daśārṇas (Daśārṇa region, central India)

• च (ca): and

• भोजाः (bhojāḥ): the Bhojas (a people/kingdom)

• किष्किन्धकैः (kiṣkindhakaiḥ): with the Kiṣkindhakas (people of Kiṣkindhā)

• सह (saha): along with.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting Purāṇic geography (janapada list)

Entities Mentioned

• Mālava
• Karūṣa
• Mekala
• Utkala
• Auṇḍra
• Māṣa
• Daśārṇa
• Bhoja
• Kiṣkindhā

Tags

• Bhārata-varṣa
• Janapadas
• Ancient Indian geography
• Tribes and kingdoms
• Puranic ethnography

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a geographical-ethnographic listing of janapadas (regions/peoples) within Bhārata-varṣa.

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

Indirectly, it supports rajadharma by mapping the political-cultural landscape (janapadas) a king might govern, ally with, or protect; the verse itself is descriptive rather than prescriptive.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is locational—identifying peoples and regions that later traditions may associate with pilgrimage routes, temples, and regional cults.