Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

सौम्यैः सुधार्मिकैश्चैव गुह्यकैः परिवारितः कैलासात्पश्चिमोदीच्यां ककुद्मानौषधीगिरिः //

Transliteration

saumyaiḥ sudhārmikaiścaiva guhyakaiḥ parivāritaḥ kailāsātpaścimodīcyāṃ kakudmānauṣadhīgiriḥ //

Translation

To the west-northwest of Mount Kailāsa lies Kakudmān, the Mountain of Medicinal Herbs—encircled by gentle, truly righteous Guhyakas.

Word by Word

• सौम्यैः: by gentle/benign beings

• सुधार्मिकैः: by those of excellent righteousness

• च एव: and indeed

• गुह्यकैः: by the Guhyakas (Yakṣa-class attendants of Kubera)

• परिवारितः: surrounded/encircled

• कैलासात्: from (Mount) Kailāsa

• पश्चिम-उदीच्यां: in the west-north (west-northwest) direction

• ककुद्मान्: Kakudmān (name of a mountain)

• औषधी-गिरिः: the mountain of herbs/medicinal plants

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing sacred geography within the Matsya Purana’s discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Kailasa
• Guhyakas
• Kubera
• Kakudmān
• Auṣadhī-giri (Mountain of Herbs)

Tags

• Sacred geography
• Himalaya
• Kailasa
• Guhyakas
• Herbal mountain

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it maps sacred Himalayan geography, highlighting a divine-protected mountain associated with healing herbs.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of protecting sacred landscapes and medicinal resources—an implied royal duty (rakṣaṇa) and a householder’s duty to honor holy regions and preserve life-supporting herbs.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it identifies a potent sacred zone near Kailāsa; in Vāstu/kshetra-selection terms, it implies that sites near auspicious mountains and life-giving resources (auṣadhis) are considered spiritually and materially beneficial.