Shloka 82

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

रक्षःपिशाचा यक्षाश्च सर्वे हैमवतास्तु ते हेमकूटे तु विज्ञेया गन्धर्वाः साप्सरोगणाः //

Transliteration

rakṣaḥpiśācā yakṣāśca sarve haimavatāstu te hemakūṭe tu vijñeyā gandharvāḥ sāpsarogaṇāḥ //

Translation

All the Rākṣasas, Piśācas, and Yakṣas are said to dwell in the Himavat region; but on Hemakūṭa are to be understood the Gandharvas, together with hosts of Apsarases.

Word by Word

• rakṣaḥ: rākṣasas (demonic beings)

• piśācāḥ: piśācas (ghoulish spirits)

• yakṣāḥ: yakṣas (nature/treasure-guarding beings)

• ca: and

• sarve: all

• haimavatāḥ: belonging to/located in Himavat (the Himalayan region)

• tu: indeed/but

• te: they

• hemakūṭe: on/in Hemakūṭa (the Hemakūṭa mountain)

• tu: however

• vijñeyāḥ: are to be known/understood as

• gandharvāḥ: gandharvas (celestial musicians)

• sāpsarogaṇāḥ: together with groups/hosts of apsarases (celestial nymphs)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Rākṣasas
• Piśācas
• Yakṣas
• Himavat
• Hemakūṭa
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Tags

• Cosmography
• Sacred Mountains
• Lokapāla-realms
• Mythic Geography
• Puranic Beings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is part of the Matsya Purana’s cosmographic mapping, assigning specific classes of beings to the regions of Himavat and Hemakūṭa.

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

Indirectly, it supports a king’s dharma of knowing sacred geography and the kinds of beings associated with different regions—knowledge used in governance, pilgrimage oversight, and ritual propriety rather than in daily household rules.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is geographic—certain mountains are presented as appropriate abodes of particular divine/semi-divine beings, informing pilgrimage narratives and regional sanctity.