Shloka 54

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

विमलैः स्फाटिकाभैश्च पाण्डुरच्छदनैर्द्विजैः बहुहंसोपगीतानि सारसाभिरुतानि च //

Transliteration

vimalaiḥ sphāṭikābhaiśca pāṇḍuracchadanairdvijaiḥ bahuhaṃsopagītāni sārasābhirutāni ca //

Translation

There, spotless, crystal-bright birds with pale-white plumage are seen; the place resounds with the songs of many swans and with the calls of sarasa-cranes as well.

Word by Word

• vimalaiḥ: by spotless (ones)

• sphāṭikābhaiḥ: having the luster of crystal

• ca: and

• pāṇḍura-acchadanaiḥ: with pale/whitish coverings (plumage)

• dvijaiḥ: by ‘twice-born’ (here: birds)

• bahu-haṃsa-upagītāni: filled with songs sung by many swans

• sārasābhiḥ: by sarasa-cranes

• rutāni: calls/cries/sounds

• ca: and

• (iti bhāvaḥ): thus (the sense)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice recounting Matsya Purana’s description; ultimately within the Matsya–Manu teaching frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Haṃsa (swan)
• Sārasa (crane)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Sacred geography
• Temple landscape
• Auspicious omens
• Natural iconography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it describes auspicious environmental signs—pure, bright birds and harmonious natural sounds—used to praise or identify a sacred locale.

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

It supports the practical ethic of choosing and maintaining pure, auspicious surroundings—especially near water sources—for settlement, pilgrimage support, and religious life, a concern for both rulers (public sacred works) and householders (clean, sattvic habitat).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

In Vastu-oriented site assessment, the presence of serene water-birds like swans and sarasa-cranes and pleasing soundscape functions as a शुभ-लक्षण: a favorable indicator for tīrtha/temple precincts and for ritual purity of the environment.