Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Lineage of the Pitṛs

Devanagari script

एतेषां मानसी कन्या पत्नी हिमवतो मता मैनाकस्तस्य दायादः क्रौञ्चस्तस्याग्रजो ऽभवत् क्रौञ्चद्वीपः स्मृतो येन चतुर्थो घृतसंवृतः //

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ mānasī kanyā patnī himavato matā mainākastasya dāyādaḥ krauñcastasyāgrajo 'bhavat krauñcadvīpaḥ smṛto yena caturtho ghṛtasaṃvṛtaḥ //

Translation

Among these, a mind-born maiden (Mānasī) is regarded as the wife of Himavat. From her, Maināka became his descendant, and Krauñca was born as Maināka’s elder brother. It is after Krauñca that the land known as Krauñca-dvīpa is remembered—the fourth continent, said to be encircled by a sea of clarified butter (ghṛta).

Word by Word

• eteṣām: of these (among them)

• mānasī: Mānasī, mind-born (mental) maiden

• kanyā: maiden/daughter

• patnī: wife

• himavataḥ: of Himavat (the हिमालय personified)

• matā: is considered/held to be

• mainākaḥ: Maināka (a mountain/personage)

• tasya: of him (Himavat)

• dāyādaḥ: heir/descendant/offspring

• krauñcaḥ: Krauñca (name of a mountain/personage)

• tasya: of him (Maināka)

• agrajaḥ: elder brother

• abhavat: became/was born

• krauñca-dvīpaḥ: Krauñca-dvīpa (continent named after Krauñca)

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/known

• yena: by whom/after whom

• caturthaḥ: the fourth

• ghṛta-saṃvṛtaḥ: encircled/covered by ghṛta (clarified butter).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for early Matsya Purana discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Mānasī
• Himavat
• Maināka
• Krauñca
• Krauñca-dvīpa
• Ghṛta (clarified butter ocean)

Tags

• Sacred Geography
• Puranic Genealogy
• Dvipas
• Mountains
• Cosmography

FAQs

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

This verse is cosmographic and genealogical rather than pralaya-focused: it explains lineage (Himavat → Maināka → Krauñca) and the naming of Krauñca-dvīpa, including the traditional detail that it is bordered by a ghṛta (clarified butter) ocean.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal that rulers and householders should preserve sacred history (itihāsa-purāṇa memory), including lineages and holy geography, which underpin pilgrimage, donations, and cultural continuity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; however, the verse contributes to ritual geography—knowing dvīpas, oceans, and sacred lineages is used in Purāṇic world-mapping, tīrtha conceptions, and cosmological framing of rites.