Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

रम्यं बिन्दुसरो नाम यत्र राजा भगीरथः गङ्गार्थे स तु राजर्षिर् उवास बहुलाः समाः //

Transliteration

ramyaṃ bindusaro nāma yatra rājā bhagīrathaḥ gaṅgārthe sa tu rājarṣir uvāsa bahulāḥ samāḥ //

Translation

There is a lovely lake named Bindusara, where King Bhagiratha—the royal sage (rājarṣi)—dwelt for many years, performing austerities to bring down the Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• रम्यम् (ramyam): beautiful, delightful

• बिन्दुसरः (bindusaraḥ): Bindusara (name of a lake/tirtha)

• नाम (nāma): by name

• यत्र (yatra): where

• राजा (rājā): king

• भगीरथः (bhagīrathaḥ): Bhagiratha

• गङ्गार्थे (gaṅgārthe): for the purpose of the Ganga / for bringing Ganga

• स (sa): he

• तु (tu): indeed

• राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ): royal sage

• उवास (uvāsa): dwelt, resided

• बहुलाः (bahulāḥ): many

• समाः (samāḥ): years

Speaker

• Suta (Pauranika narrator) describing a tirtha and Bhagiratha’s penance (within the Matsya Purana’s discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Bindusara
• Bhagiratha
• Ganga

Tags

• Tirtha
• Bhagiratha
• Ganga
• Tapas
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it highlights a sacred place (Bindusara) associated with Bhagiratha’s long austerities undertaken to bring the river Ganga.

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

By portraying Bhagiratha as a rājarṣi who endures many years of disciplined effort for a public, dharmic goal (bringing Ganga), the verse models the kingly duty of self-sacrifice and perseverance for the welfare of ancestors and society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse’s ritual significance is tirtha-centered: Bindusara is marked as a sacred lake connected with tapas for Ganga; such identification underpins later practices of pilgrimage, bathing, and merit-making at named water-tirthas.