Shloka 61

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

तीरे वंशौकसारायाः सुरभिर्नाम तद्वनम् हिरण्यशृङ्गो वसति विद्वान्कौबेरको वशी //

Transliteration

tīre vaṃśaukasārāyāḥ surabhirnāma tadvanam hiraṇyaśṛṅgo vasati vidvānkauberako vaśī //

Translation

On the bank of the Vaṃśaukasārā River lies a forest named Surabhi. There dwells Hiraṇyaśṛṅga—wise, self-controlled, and a Kauberaka (a Yakṣa of Kubera’s retinue).

Word by Word

• तीरे (tīre): on the bank/shore

• वंशौकसारायाः (vaṃśaukasārāyāḥ): of the Vaṃśaukasārā (river/name)

• सुरभिः (surabhiḥ): Surabhi (name of the forest

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• तत् (tat): that

• वनम् (vanam): forest

• हिरण्यशृङ्गः (hiraṇyaśṛṅgaḥ): Hiraṇyaśṛṅga (proper name, 'golden-horned')

• वसति (vasati): dwells/resides

• विद्वान् (vidvān): learned/wise

• कौबेरकः (kauberakaḥ): belonging to Kubera

• वशी (vaśī): self-mastered, disciplined

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) relaying the sacred geography account (tīrtha/vanam description)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaṃśaukasārā (river)
• Surabhi (forest)
• Hiraṇyaśṛṅga
• Kubera
• Kauberaka (Yakṣa class)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Yaksha
• Forest Hermitage
• Puranic Topography

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it situates a specific sacred landscape—naming a riverbank forest and its guardian-like resident associated with Kubera.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal of honoring tīrthas and protected sacred spaces; a king/householder gains merit by respecting such sites and the disciplined, wise beings (like a vaśī) who dwell there.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu rule is stated, but the verse functions as a tīrtha-marker: such named forests on riverbanks are typical ritual geographies for pilgrimage, bathing, offerings, and establishing hermitages/holy precincts.