Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

दृश्यते भासुरा रात्रौ देवी त्रिपथगा तु सा अन्तरिक्षं दिवं चैव भावयित्वा भुवं गता //

Transliteration

dṛśyate bhāsurā rātrau devī tripathagā tu sā antarikṣaṃ divaṃ caiva bhāvayitvā bhuvaṃ gatā //

Translation

At night she is seen shining with brilliant radiance—the goddess Tripathagā (Gaṅgā); having pervaded the mid-region and heaven with her presence, she then proceeds to the earthly realm.

Word by Word

• दृश्यते: is seen

• भासुरा: radiant, shining

• रात्रौ: at night

• देवी: the goddess

• त्रिपथगा: ‘she who moves in three paths’ (Gaṅgā—heaven, mid-air, earth)

• तु: indeed

• सा: she

• अन्तरिक्षम्: the mid-region/sky

• दिवम्: heaven

• च एव: and also

• भावयित्वा: having pervaded/filled, having made manifest

• भुवम्: the earth

• गता: gone, proceeded

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the cosmic course of Gaṅgā in the Matsya Purāṇa’s tīrtha-mahātmya context

Entities Mentioned

• Tripathagā (Gaṅgā)
• Devī

Tags

• Tirtha
• Ganga
• Sacred Geography
• Cosmology
• Purana

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it presents a cosmological vision of Gaṅgā spanning heaven, the mid-region, and earth—implying a stable three-tier cosmos rather than dissolution.

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

By praising Gaṅgā as Tripathagā, the verse supports tīrtha-oriented dharma: rulers and householders gain merit through honoring sacred rivers, undertaking pilgrimages, and supporting rites connected with holy waters.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it underscores Gaṅgā’s sanctity across realms—supporting practices like snāna (sacred bathing), ācamana, and water-offerings; architecturally, it indirectly legitimizes ghāṭa and tīrtha constructions aligned to river worship.