Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

तथा वेणा नदी पुण्या महाशालं तथैव च महारुद्रं महालिङ्गं दशार्णा च नदी शुभा //

Transliteration

tathā veṇā nadī puṇyā mahāśālaṃ tathaiva ca mahārudraṃ mahāliṅgaṃ daśārṇā ca nadī śubhā //

Translation

Likewise, the sacred river Veṇā is merit-bearing; so too are Mahāśāla, Mahārudra, and Mahāliṅga; and the auspicious river Daśārṇā as well.

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise/also

• veṇā: Veṇā (a river)

• nadī: river

• puṇyā: holy/merit-giving

• mahāśālam: Mahāśāla (a sacred place/tirtha)

• tathā eva ca: and likewise indeed

• mahārudram: Mahārudra (a sacred Śiva-site/tirtha)

• mahāliṅgam: Mahāliṅga (a great Liṅga shrine/tirtha)

• daśārṇā: Daśārṇā (a river/region-associated river)

• ca: and

• nadī: river

• śubhā: auspicious/beneficial.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Veṇā River
• Mahāśāla
• Mahārudra
• Mahāliṅga
• Daśārṇā River
• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Shiva Tirthas
• Punya
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it functions as a tirtha-mahātmya-style catalogue, asserting the merit (puṇya) gained by remembering or visiting certain rivers and sacred Śiva-associated sites.

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

For kings and householders, such verses support dharmic life through pilgrimage, gifting, vows, and ritual bathing at recognized holy rivers and tirthas—acts commonly recommended in Purāṇic ethics for accruing merit and social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse highlights river-tirthas and prominent Śiva-sites (Mahārudra/Mahāliṅga), implying practices like snāna (sacred bathing), darśana, and worship at liṅga-shrines; it does not lay out Vāstu rules but points to established pilgrimage temples.