Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

तस्मात्प्रभवते पुण्या सरयूर्लोकपावनी यस्यास्तीरे वनं दिव्यं वैभ्राजं नाम विश्रुतम् //

Transliteration

tasmātprabhavate puṇyā sarayūrlokapāvanī yasyāstīre vanaṃ divyaṃ vaibhrājaṃ nāma viśrutam //

Translation

From that sacred source arises the holy Sarayū, purifier of the worlds; upon her bank lies a divine forest, renowned everywhere by the name Vaibhrāja.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: from that (source/cause)

• prabhavate: arises, comes forth

• puṇyā: sacred, meritorious

• sarayūḥ: the river Sarayū

• loka-pāvanī: purifier of the worlds

• yasyāḥ: of which (river)

• tīre: on the bank

• vanam: forest

• divyam: divine, celestial

• vaibhrājam: Vaibhrāja (proper name)

• nāma: by name

• viśrutam: famous, well-known

Speaker

• Suta (Purana-narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya style description (speaker not explicit in the single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Sarayu
• Vaibhraja (forest)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Pilgrimage
• Punya
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it functions as tirtha-mahatmya, praising the sacred origin and purifying power of the Sarayū and identifying a revered forest on her bank.

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

By presenting the Sarayū as lokapāvanī (world-purifying), the verse supports the Purāṇic ethic that householders and rulers gain merit through honoring sacred rivers, supporting pilgrimage, and protecting holy groves and riverbanks.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights a sanctified riverbank and forest—typical loci for bathing (snāna), offerings, and worship; architecturally, it implies the suitability of such tīrthas for establishing shrines/ashrams, though no direct Vāstu rule is stated in this line.