Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

अभयेत्युष्णतीर्थेषु चामृता विन्ध्यकन्दरे माण्डव्ये माण्डवी नाम स्वाहा माहेश्वरे पुरे //

Transliteration

abhayetyuṣṇatīrtheṣu cāmṛtā vindhyakandare māṇḍavye māṇḍavī nāma svāhā māheśvare pure //

Translation

Among the hot-water sacred fords is (the tirtha) called Abhayā; in the caves of the Vindhya is (the tirtha) called Amṛtā; at Māṇḍavya is one named Māṇḍavī; and in the city of Maheśvara is (the tirtha) called Svāhā.

Word by Word

• abhayā: ‘Abhayā’ (a tirtha-name, ‘fearlessness’)

• iti: thus/called

• uṣṇa-tīrtheṣu: among hot (thermal) tirthas

• ca: and

• amṛtā: ‘Amṛtā’ (a tirtha-name, ‘nectar/immortality’)

• vindhya-kandare: in the caves/gorges of the Vindhya (range)

• māṇḍavye: at Māṇḍavya (a place/tirtha associated with Māṇḍavya)

• māṇḍavī: ‘Māṇḍavī’ (a tirtha-name)

• nāma: named

• svāhā: ‘Svāhā’ (a tirtha-name

• māheśvare: in/at Māheśvara (place associated with Śiva)

• pure: in the city

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-listing tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Abhayā (tirtha)
• Uṣṇatīrtha (hot spring tirtha category)
• Amṛtā (tirtha)
• Vindhya (mountain range)
• Māṇḍavya (place/tirtha)
• Māṇḍavī (tirtha)
• Svāhā (tirtha)
• Maheśvara (Śiva-associated city)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Pilgrimage
• Ritual Purity
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it catalogs specific tirtha-names and locations, emphasizing sacred geography and the merit of pilgrimage rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It supports the householder’s dharma of tīrtha-yātrā (pilgrimage) and ritual bathing as purificatory acts; for kings, such tirtha networks also function as sacred-cultural maps that legitimize patronage and protection of holy sites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it points to bathing/visiting named tirthas (including hot springs and cave-tirthas). Architecturally, the implication is indirect: such named sites commonly attract shrines and ghāṭas, forming pilgrimage infrastructure rather than prescribing Vastu rules in this specific verse.