Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

भवस्य दयितः श्रीमान् पर्वतो हैमसंनिभः शातकौम्भमयैर्दिव्यैः शिलाजालैः समाचितः //

Transliteration

bhavasya dayitaḥ śrīmān parvato haimasaṃnibhaḥ śātakaumbhamayairdivyaiḥ śilājālaiḥ samācitaḥ //

Translation

A splendid mountain, dear to Bhava (Śiva), shone like gold and was filled and adorned with wondrous lattices and networks of rocks fashioned of śātakaumbha-gold.

Word by Word

• भवस्य (bhavasya): of Bhava, i.e., Śiva

• दयितः (dayitaḥ): beloved, dear

• श्रीमान् (śrīmān): splendid, illustrious, endowed with beauty

• पर्वतः (parvataḥ): mountain

• हैम-संनिभः (haima-saṃnibhaḥ): resembling gold, golden in appearance

• शातकौम्भ-मयैः (śātakaumbha-mayaiḥ): made of śātakaumbha (refined) gold

• दिव्यैः (divyaiḥ): divine, wondrous

• शिला-जालैः (śilā-jālaiḥ): stone-lattices/stone-networks, interlaced formations of rock

• समाचितः (samācitaḥ): heaped with, filled, richly adorned

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing a sacred geography episode within the Matsya Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Bhava (Shiva)
• Parvata (sacred mountain)
• Shatakaumbha (gold)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Shaiva
• Sacred Geography
• Himalaya
• Puranic Imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it poetically describes a sacred mountain dear to Śiva, emphasizing divine splendor rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic ideals by elevating tīrthas and sacred places: kings protect such sites and householders gain merit through reverence, pilgrimage, and patronage of holy geography.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The imagery of “śilā-jāla” (stone lattice/network) and golden brilliance aligns with Purāṇic temple aesthetics—ornamented stonework and radiant materials symbolizing divine presence, useful for interpreting Matsya Purana vastu-shastra symbolism.