Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

पुष्करे पुरुहूतेति केदारे मार्गदायिनी नन्दा हिमवतः पृष्ठे गोकर्णे भद्रकर्णिका //

Transliteration

puṣkare puruhūteti kedāre mārgadāyinī nandā himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe gokarṇe bhadrakarṇikā //

Translation

In Puṣkara she is called “Puruhūtā”; at Kedāra she is known as “Mārgadāyinī” (the one who shows the path). She is “Nandā” upon the slopes of the Himālaya, and at Gokarṇa she is called “Bhadrakarṇikā.”

Word by Word

• पुष्करे (puṣkare): at Pushkara

• पुरुहूता (puruhūtā): ‘Puruhūtā’, a sacred epithet/name

• इति (iti): thus/so called

• केदारे (kedāre): at Kedara (Kedarnath region)

• मार्गदायिनी (mārgadāyinī): path-giver, guide (esp. to liberation/pilgrimage way)

• नन्दा (nandā): ‘Nandā’, a name meaning ‘joy-giving/auspicious’

• हिमवतः (himavataḥ): of Himavat, the Himalaya

• पृष्ठे (pṛṣṭhe): on the back/slopes/ridges

• गोकर्णे (gokarṇe): at Gokarna

• भद्रकर्णिका (bhadrakarṇikā): ‘Bhadrakarṇikā’, auspicious-eared/auspicious Gokarna-related epithet/name

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (tirtha-names tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Pushkara
• Kedara
• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Gokarna
• Puruhuta (epithet)
• Margadayini (epithet)
• Nanda (epithet)
• Bhadrakarnika (epithet)

Tags

• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Sacred Geography
• River Names
• Pilgrimage
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it catalogs sacred-place epithets, mapping a divine presence through tirthas rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

It supports dharma through tirtha-yatra: a king or householder sustains righteous life by honoring sacred places, learning their traditions, and performing merit-making observances associated with them.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual takeaway is tirtha-identification: the same sacred power is invoked under different names at Pushkara, Kedara, the Himalayan region, and Gokarna—useful for correct sankalpa (vow-formula) and place-specific worship.