Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

हिरण्यशृङ्गः सुमहादिव्यौषधिमयो गिरिः तस्य पादे महद्दिव्यं सरः काञ्चनवालुकम् //

Transliteration

hiraṇyaśṛṅgaḥ sumahādivyauṣadhimayo giriḥ tasya pāde mahaddivyaṃ saraḥ kāñcanavālukam //

Translation

There is a mountain called Hiraṇyaśṛṅga (“Golden-peaked”), exceedingly vast and composed of celestial, divine herbs. At its very foot lies a great, wondrous lake whose sands are of gold.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यशृङ्गः: Hiraṇyaśṛṅga (Golden-peaked, a mountain-name)

• सुमहा: exceedingly great

• दिव्यौषधिमयः: consisting of divine medicinal herbs

• गिरिः: mountain

• तस्य: of it

• पादे: at the foot/base

• महत्: great, vast

• दिव्यम्: divine, wondrous

• सरः: lake

• काञ्चनवालुकम्: having golden sand (lit. golden-sanded)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (to Vaivasvata Manu), within a descriptive sacred-geography passage

Entities Mentioned

• Hiraṇyaśṛṅga
• Divine herbs (divyauṣadhi)
• Sacred lake (saras)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Divine Mountains
• Pilgrimage
• Puranic Cosmography

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it presents a stable, sanctified cosmic landscape—divine mountains, herbs, and a sacred lake—typical of Puranic cosmography that persists across cycles.

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

By highlighting a sacred site (mountain and lake), it supports the Purāṇic ideal that kings protect tīrthas and that householders gain merit through pilgrimage, reverence, and preserving holy natural spaces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, such a golden-sanded lake at a divine mountain’s base implies a powerful tīrtha suited for bathing (snāna), offerings, and vow-observances; architecturally, it reflects the Vāstu preference for auspicious water-bodies near sacred elevations and shrines.