Shloka 70

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

ह्रदाः कुरुषु विख्याताः पद्ममीनकुलाकुलाः नाम्ना ते वै जया नाम द्वादशोदधिसंनिभाः //

Transliteration

hradāḥ kuruṣu vikhyātāḥ padmamīnakulākulāḥ nāmnā te vai jayā nāma dvādaśodadhisaṃnibhāḥ //

Translation

In the land of the Kurus there are renowned lakes, filled with lotuses and throngs of fish. They are called “Jayā”—twelve in number—vast and splendid, like oceans.

Word by Word

• ह्रदाः (hradāḥ): lakes

• कुरुषु (kuruṣu): in the Kuru country/among the Kurus

• विख्याताः (vikhyātāḥ): renowned, celebrated

• पद्म (padma): lotus

• मीनकुल (mīna-kula): schools/groups of fish

• आकुलाः (ākulāḥ): filled with, teeming with

• नाम्ना (nāmnā): by name

• ते (te): they

• वै (vai): indeed

• जया (jayā): Jayā (name of the lakes)

• नाम (nāma): called, named

• द्वादश (dvādaśa): twelve

• उदधि (udadhi): ocean, sea

• संनिभाः (saṃnibhāḥ): comparable to, resembling.

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (or the Purāṇic narrator) describing sacred geography in response to inquiry; presented within the Matsya Purana’s narrative exposition

Entities Mentioned

• Kurus
• Jayā (lakes)
• Hradas (lakes)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Kuru Region
• Pilgrimage
• Natural Sacred Sites

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it focuses on sacred geography—renowned lakes in the Kuru land—highlighting the Purāṇic sanctification of natural waters rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through tīrtha-oriented life: householders and rulers are encouraged in Purāṇic ethics to protect water-bodies and facilitate pilgrimage, bathing, and ritual purity connected with famed lakes and sacred sites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the emphasis is on holy waters suitable for snāna (sacred bathing) and pilgrimage merit; architecturally, it implies the importance of conserving and developing tīrtha landscapes (ghāṭas, access paths, and protective works) around renowned lakes.