Shloka 53

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

सुकान्तैर्धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च राजहंसैश्च सुप्रियैः कारण्डवैश्चक्रवाकैः सारसैः कुररैरपि //

Transliteration

sukāntairdhārtarāṣṭraiśca rājahaṃsaiśca supriyaiḥ kāraṇḍavaiścakravākaiḥ sārasaiḥ kurarairapi //

Translation

It is filled with lovely dhārtarāṣṭra geese, with royal swans dear to the eye, and also with kāraṇḍava ducks, cakravāka birds, sārasas (cranes), and kuraras as well.

Word by Word

• sukāntaiḥ: with charming/beautiful ones

• dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ: with dhārtarāṣṭra-geese (a species of goose)

• ca: and

• rājahaṃsaiḥ: with royal swans

• ca: and

• supriyaiḥ: very dear/pleasing (to behold)

• kāraṇḍavaiḥ: with kāraṇḍava ducks

• cakravākaiḥ: with cakravāka birds (ruddy goose/brahminy duck)

• sārasaiḥ: with sārasas (cranes)

• kuraraiḥ: with kurara birds (osprey/sea-eagle type bird)

• api: also/indeed.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the sacred setting (contextual attribution within Purāṇic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• rājahaṃsa (royal swan)
• dhārtarāṣṭra (goose)
• kāraṇḍava (duck)
• cakravāka (bird)
• sārasa (crane)
• kurara (bird)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred geography
• Nature imagery
• Sarovara
• Puranic description

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a tīrtha-style depiction of a sacred lake’s auspicious abundance, using serene bird imagery rather than cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it supports Purāṇic ideals of dharmic life by praising peaceful, pure environments associated with pilgrimage and merit—settings a king should protect and a householder may visit for purification.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the tīrtha-context: a holy waterbody is portrayed as naturally auspicious, reinforcing the sanctity of bathing, worship, and pilgrimage at such lakes.