Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

मध्ये हिमवतः पृष्ठे कैलासो नाम पर्वतः तस्मिन्निवसति श्रीमान् कुबेरः सह गुह्यकैः //

Transliteration

madhye himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe kailāso nāma parvataḥ tasminnivasati śrīmān kuberaḥ saha guhyakaiḥ //

Translation

In the central region, upon the back (northern heights) of the Himavat, stands the mountain named Kailāsa; there the illustrious Kubera dwells, together with the Guhyakas.

Word by Word

• मध्ये (madhye): in the middle/central region

• हिमवतः (himavataḥ): of Himavat, the Himalaya

• पृष्ठे (pṛṣṭhe): on the back, on the ridge/upper expanse

• कैलासः (kailāsaḥ): Kailāsa

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• पर्वतः (parvataḥ): mountain

• तस्मिन् (tasmin): in/therein

• निवसति (nivasati): dwells, resides

• श्रीमान् (śrīmān): illustrious, splendid

• कुबेरः (kuberaḥ): Kubera (lord of wealth, guardian of the North)

• सह (saha): along with

• गुह्यकैः (guhyakaiḥ): with the Guhyakas (Kubera’s attendant spirits).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing sacred geography (context within Matsya Purana’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Kailāsa
• Kubera
• Guhyakas

Tags

• Kshetra-Mahatmya
• Sacred Geography
• Himalayas
• Kubera
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it situates Kailāsa within the Himalayas and identifies it as Kubera’s abode, emphasizing sacred geography rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic life by mapping revered sacred spaces: kings and householders are encouraged in the Purāṇic framework to honor kṣetras and uphold pilgrimage, charity, and reverence to divine guardians like Kubera as part of righteous conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse itself is primarily topographical, but it implies ritual significance: Kailāsa is a sanctified locus associated with Kubera and his attendants, making it a ritually potent region for worship and pilgrimage (a common basis for later temple-site sanctification in Purāṇic tradition).