Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

ततस्तु नलिनी चापि प्राचीमेव दिशं ययौ कुपथान्प्लावयन्ती सा इन्द्रद्युम्नसरांस्यपि //

Transliteration

tatastu nalinī cāpi prācīmeva diśaṃ yayau kupathānplāvayantī sā indradyumnasarāṃsyapi //

Translation

Then the river Nalinī, too, flowed eastward, flooding the misguided channels and even inundating the lakes of Indradyumna.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• tu: indeed/and

• nalinī: (the river) Nalinī

• ca api: also

• prācīm: eastward

• eva: only/indeed

• diśam: direction

• yayau: went/flowed

• kupathān: wrong paths, improper courses (misdirected channels)

• plāvayantī: flooding, causing to overflow

• sā: she/that (river)

• indradyumna-sarāṃsi: the lakes/ponds of Indradyumna

• api: even/also

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the sacred geography within the Matsya Purana’s pilgrimage context

Entities Mentioned

• Nalinī
• Indradyumna
• Indradyumna-saras (lakes of Indradyumna)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Rivers
• Pilgrimage
• Mahatmya

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; it uses flood imagery at a local, geographical scale—showing a river overflowing and submerging channels and sacred lakes.

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

Indirectly, it implies the importance of managing waterways and respecting sacred landscapes; a king’s dharma includes protecting tirthas, lakes, and proper watercourses from destructive overflow.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse highlights hydrology around sacred sites: for Vastu and temple-town planning, correct water-channel alignment and drainage are crucial, since misdirected courses (kupatha) can lead to inundation of tanks and ritual water-reservoirs.