Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

गन्धवत्यः शुभास्तत्र पुष्टमञ्जरिधारिणीः दृष्टवान्पर्वताग्रेषु नानापुष्पधरा लताः //

Transliteration

gandhavatyaḥ śubhāstatra puṣṭamañjaridhāriṇīḥ dṛṣṭavānparvatāgreṣu nānāpuṣpadharā latāḥ //

Translation

There he beheld, upon the mountain-peaks, auspicious creepers rich with fragrance—bearing full, well-nourished clusters of blossoms, and laden with flowers of many kinds.

Word by Word

• गन्धवत्यः (gandhavatyaḥ): fragrant

• शुभाः (śubhāḥ): auspicious, beautiful

• तत्र (tatra): there

• पुष्ट (puṣṭa): full, well-developed, luxuriant

• मञ्जरि (mañjarī): flower-cluster, inflorescence

• धारिणीः (dhāriṇīḥ): bearing, carrying

• दृष्टवान् (dṛṣṭavān): (he) saw, beheld

• पर्वताग्रेषु (parvatāgreṣu): on the mountain-tops/peaks

• नाना (nānā): various, many

• पुष्प (puṣpa): flowers

• धराः (dharāḥ): bearing, holding

• लताः (latāḥ): creepers, vines

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) continuing descriptive narration (varṇana) within the Matsya Purana’s flow

Entities Mentioned

• Parvata (mountain peaks)
• Latā (creepers/vines)
• Mañjarī (flower clusters)

Tags

• Sacred geography
• Nature description
• Tirtha context
• Auspiciousness
• Puranic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights an auspicious, thriving natural landscape—imagery typically used to mark sacred or merit-producing regions rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By portraying ‘śubha’ (auspicious) and fragrant vegetation, the verse supports the Purāṇic ideal that rulers and householders should protect forests, groves, and sacred landscapes—preserving environments that sustain ritual life, pilgrimage, and public welfare.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While no building rule is stated, fragrant, flower-laden creepers are classic auspicious markers; in Vastu and temple-garden practice, such flora is associated with purity and devotional ambience, supporting the idea of cultivating sacred groves (nandana-vana/puṣpodyāna) near shrines and tirthas.