Shloka 85

Matsya Purana — Division of Bhārata-varṣa

Devanagari script

शृङ्गवान् पर्वतश्रेष्ठः पितॄणां प्रतिसंचरः इत्येतानि मयोक्तानि नववर्षाणि भारते //

Transliteration

śṛṅgavān parvataśreṣṭhaḥ pitṝṇāṃ pratisaṃcaraḥ ityetāni mayoktāni navavarṣāṇi bhārate //

Translation

Śṛṅgavān—the foremost of mountains—is the route of return and passage for the Pitṛs (ancestral beings). Thus have I declared the nine varṣas (regions) within Bhārata.

Word by Word

• शृङ्गवान् (śṛṅgavān): Śṛṅgavān (a named mountain)

• पर्वतश्रेष्ठः (parvataśreṣṭhaḥ): the best/foremost of mountains

• पितॄणाम् (pitṝṇām): of the Pitṛs/ancestors

• प्रतिसंचरः (pratisaṃcaraḥ): return-route, passage back and forth, course of movement

• इति (iti): thus

• एतानि (etāni): these

• मया (mayā): by me

• उक्तानि (uktāni): spoken/declared

• नववर्षाणि (navavarṣāṇi): nine varṣas/regions

• भारते (bhārate): in Bhārata (Bhāratavarṣa/India).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Śṛṅgavān (mountain)
• Pitṛs (ancestral beings)
• Bhārata (Bhāratavarṣa)
• Navavarṣa (nine regions)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Bhāratavarṣa
• Pitṛloka
• Mountains
• Puranic Cosmography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on cosmography—mapping Bhārata’s regions and indicating a sacred ‘path of movement’ associated with the Pitṛs.

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

By highlighting the Pitṛs and their sacred passage, it implicitly supports pitṛ-yajña and śrāddha duties—core householder obligations that kings also uphold through patronage of rites and sacred places.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it underscores Pitṛ-related observances (śrāddha, tarpaṇa) and the sanctity of specific landscapes; it does not provide direct Vāstu or temple-construction rules in this line.