Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

कैलासात्पश्चिमामाशां दिव्यः सर्वौषधिगिरिः वरुणः पर्वतश्रेष्ठो रुक्मधातुविभूषितः //

Transliteration

kailāsātpaścimāmāśāṃ divyaḥ sarvauṣadhigiriḥ varuṇaḥ parvataśreṣṭho rukmadhātuvibhūṣitaḥ //

Translation

To the west of Kailāsa lies the divine mountain Varuṇa—foremost among mountains—an ‘all-medicinal’ peak, adorned with deposits of golden ore.

Word by Word

• कैलासात्: from (Mount) Kailāsa

• पश्चिमाम्: western

• आशाम्: direction/quarter

• दिव्यः: divine, celestial

• सर्वौषधिगिरिः: the mountain containing all herbs/medicinal plants (sarva-auṣadhi-giri)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa (name of the mountain)

• पर्वतश्रेष्ठः: best/foremost of mountains

• रुक्मधातुविभूषितः: adorned/ornamented with golden mineral/ore deposits (rukma-dhātu).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purāṇa’s account, within the traditional dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Kailāsa
• Varuṇa (mountain)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Mountains
• Tirtha
• Bhūgola
• Puranic Cosmography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it maps sacred geography by locating a divine, herb-rich mountain to the west of Kailāsa.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of dharmic life through knowledge of tīrthas and sacred regions—useful for pilgrimage, patronage, and protecting holy landscapes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, “sarvauṣadhi” implies a source of potent medicinal herbs used in yajña and healing rites; “rukma-dhātu” also suggests auspicious metals relevant to temple endowments and sacred offerings.