Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Emergence of Brahmā from the Golden Lotus and the Lotus-Form Earth

Devanagari script

एवं भगवता तेन विश्वेषां धारणाविधिः पर्वतानां नदीनां च ह्रदानां चैव निर्मितः //

Transliteration

evaṃ bhagavatā tena viśveṣāṃ dhāraṇāvidhiḥ parvatānāṃ nadīnāṃ ca hradānāṃ caiva nirmitaḥ //

Translation

Thus, by that Blessed Lord, the ordinance of support for all the worlds was established—through the formation of mountains, rivers, and lakes.

Word by Word

• एवम् (evaṃ): thus

• भगवता (bhagavatā): by the Blessed Lord

• तेन (tena): by him/thereby

• विश्वेषाम् (viśveṣāṃ): of all (beings/worlds)

• धारणाविधिः (dhāraṇā-vidhiḥ): the rule/arrangement of sustaining and holding up

• पर्वतानाम् (parvatānām): of mountains

• नदीनाम् (nadīnām): of rivers

• च (ca): and

• ह्रदानाम् (hradānām): of lakes/ponds

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• निर्मितः (nirmitaḥ): was made/was fashioned/was established.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) summarizing the Lord’s cosmic arrangement (as taught in the Matsya Purana dialogue tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhagavān (the Lord)
• Mountains
• Rivers
• Lakes

Tags

• Cosmic Geography
• Creation
• Dhāraṇāvidhi
• Mountains
• Rivers

FAQs

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

It emphasizes creation and stabilization: the Lord establishes the world’s sustaining order (dhāraṇāvidhi) by forming mountains, rivers, and lakes—features that hold and regulate the earth rather than describing dissolution.

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

By portraying watercourses and terrain as divinely ordered supports, it implies a dharmic duty to protect rivers, lakes, and mountains—through just governance, conservation, and responsible settlement planning that does not disrupt these supports.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse highlights terrain and water bodies as foundational supports—key Vāstu considerations for selecting sites (presence and management of rivers/lakes, stable land near hills) and for maintaining auspicious, sustainable habitation.