Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

अरूपाः शौण्डिकेराश्च वीतिहोत्रा अवन्तयः एते जनपदाः ख्याता विन्ध्यपृष्ठनिवासिनः //

Transliteration

arūpāḥ śauṇḍikerāśca vītihotrā avantayaḥ ete janapadāḥ khyātā vindhyapṛṣṭhanivāsinaḥ //

Translation

The Arūpas, the Śauṇḍikeras, the Vītihotras, and the Avantayas—these are well-known janapadas (territorial peoples) who dwell along the Vindhya range and its hinterlands.

Word by Word

अरूपाः (arūpāḥ)the Arūpas (a people/tribal group)

शौण्डिकेराः (śauṇḍikerāḥ)the Śauṇḍikeras (a people)

च (ca)and

वीतिहोत्राः (vītihotrāḥ)the Vītihotras (a people/lineage-group)

अवन्तयः (avantayaḥ)the Avantayas (people of Avanti/Avanti-region)

एते (ete)these

जनपदाः (janapadāḥ)countries/territorial communities

ख्याताः (khyātāḥ)famed, well-known

विन्ध्य-पृष्ठ-निवासिनः (vindhya-pṛṣṭha-nivāsinaḥ)dwellers on/behind the Vindhya slopes, inhabitants of the Vindhya back-country.

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (context: puranic instruction listing regions/peoples)

Entities Mentioned

VindhyaArūpasŚauṇḍikerasVītihotrasAvantayasAvanti

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it functions as a geographic-ethnographic note, naming janapadas associated with the Vindhya region.

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

Indirectly, such janapada catalogues inform a king’s understanding of territories and peoples—useful for governance, diplomacy, pilgrimage routes, and the puranic ideal of knowing the realm’s cultural geography.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the significance is locational—identifying Vindhya-linked regions that may contextualize later references to sacred sites, temple patronage, or regional traditions.