Shloka 78

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

इत्येते पर्वताविष्टाश् चत्वारो लवणोदधिम् छिद्यमानेषु पक्षेषु पुरा इन्द्रस्य वै भयात् //

Transliteration

ityete parvatāviṣṭāś catvāro lavaṇodadhim chidyamāneṣu pakṣeṣu purā indrasya vai bhayāt //

Translation

Thus, these four, having taken refuge as mountains, entered the Salt Ocean—when, in ancient times, the mountains’ wings were being cut off, out of fear of Indra.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• ete: these

• parvata-āviṣṭāḥ: having entered/assumed the state of mountains, having taken refuge as mountains

• catvāraḥ: four

• lavaṇa-udadhiṁ: the Salt Ocean

• chidyamāneṣu: while being cut

• pakṣeṣu: wings (flanks) [of the mountains]

• purā: formerly, in ancient times

• indrasya: of Indra

• vai: indeed

• bhayāt: from fear

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting cosmographic lore (within the Matsya Purana’s narrative frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra
• Lavaṇodadhi (Salt Ocean)
• Parvatas (mountains)

Tags

• Cosmography
• Mountains
• Indra
• Mythic Geography
• Lavaṇodadhi

FAQs

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

This verse is not a Pralaya (cosmic dissolution) statement; it belongs to cosmographic myth, explaining how certain beings became mountain-forms and moved into the Salt Ocean due to fear during Indra’s cutting of the mountains’ wings.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces a Purāṇic theme of maintaining order: Indra’s act symbolizes restraining destabilizing forces. For kings, the parallel is governance that prevents harm to the world; for householders, disciplined restraint supports social stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; its takeaway is sacred-geography context—mountains and oceans as mythic foundations often referenced when Purāṇas later prescribe temple sites and tīrtha significance.