Shloka 63

Matsya Purana — Glory of Tīrtha-Śrāddha: Best Times

Devanagari script

वैदर्भा वाथ वैरा च पयोष्णी प्राङ्मुखा परा कावेरी चोत्तरा पुण्या तथा जालंधरो गिरिः //

Transliteration

vaidarbhā vātha vairā ca payoṣṇī prāṅmukhā parā kāverī cottarā puṇyā tathā jālaṃdharo giriḥ //

Translation

Also (are praised) the Vaidarbhā and Vairā (rivers/regions), and the Payoṣṇī; likewise the Prāṅmukhā, the eminent Parā; and the holy Kāverī flowing northward—together with the mountain Jālaṃdhara.

Word by Word

• वैदर्भा (vaidarbhā): the Vaidarbhā river/land of Vidarbha

• वाथ (vātha): and also

• वैरा (vairā): Vairā (river/region)

• च (ca): and

• पयोष्णी (payoṣṇī): the river Payoṣṇī

• प्राङ्मुखा (prāṅmukhā): ‘east-facing/east-flowing’ (a river name/epithet)

• परा (parā): the supreme/another river named Parā

• कावेरी (kāverī): the river Kāverī (Cauvery)

• चोत्तरा (cottarā): and ‘northward/north-flowing’ (uttarā)

• पुण्या (puṇyā): holy, meritorious

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• जालंधरः (jālaṃdharaḥ): Jālaṃdhara (name of a mountain/place)

• गिरिः (giriḥ): mountain

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s sacred-geography list (traditional Purana narration frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaidarbhā
• Vairā
• Payoṣṇī
• Prāṅmukhā
• Parā
• Kāverī
• Jālaṃdhara Mountain

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Punya
• Pilgrimage Geography
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is part of a sacred-geography catalogue, praising rivers and a mountain as holy supports of dharma and pilgrimage merit.

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

By identifying specific rivers/regions as puṇya (merit-giving), it implicitly guides kings and householders toward tirtha-yatra and ritual bathing/donations performed at renowned waters—standard Purāṇic duties linked to purification and public religiosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse highlights named waters as sacred—useful for snāna (purificatory bathing), saṅkalpa rites, and selecting auspicious locales; such tirtha recognition often underlies later temple siting and consecration practices near holy rivers.