Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Genealogy and Classification of Sacred Fires

Devanagari script

विपाशां कौशिकीं चैव शतद्रुं सरयूं तथा सीतां मनस्विनीं चैव ह्रादिनीं पावनां तथा //

Transliteration

vipāśāṃ kauśikīṃ caiva śatadruṃ sarayūṃ tathā sītāṃ manasvinīṃ caiva hrādinīṃ pāvanāṃ tathā //

Translation

Vipāśā, Kauśikī, Śatadru, and Sarayū; and also Sītā, Manasvinī, Hrādinī, and Pāvanā—these sacred rivers are to be remembered and revered.

Word by Word

• vipāśām: the river Vipāśā (Beas)

• kauśikīm: the river Kauśikī (Kosi)

• ca eva: and indeed/also

• śatadrum: the river Śatadru (Sutlej)

• sarayūm: the river Sarayū

• tathā: likewise/also

• sītām: the river Sītā

• manasvinīm: the river Manasvinī

• ca eva: and also

• hrādinīm: the river Hrādinī (lake-forming/cool-water river)

• pāvanām: the purifier/purifying river (Pāvanā)

• tathā: and likewise.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) conveying the Matsya Purana’s sacred geography in a stotra-like catalogue

Entities Mentioned

• Vipāśā (Beas)
• Kauśikī (Kosi)
• Śatadru (Sutlej)
• Sarayū
• Sītā
• Manasvinī
• Hrādinī
• Pāvanā

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Nadi-Stuti
• Purification
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it functions as a sacred-geography catalogue, emphasizing rivers as perennial purifiers and supports of dharma across cosmic cycles.

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

It supports the dharmic practice of tīrtha-smarana and reverence for life-giving rivers—aligned with a householder’s purity disciplines and a king’s duty to protect waterways, pilgrimage routes, and public welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to river-centered purification (snāna, ācamana, and tīrtha rites). Architecturally, such river lists often guide tīrtha selection for temples/ghāṭas, though no specific Vāstu rule is stated in this verse.