Shloka 37

Matsya Purana — Mahāgaurī’s Entry

Devanagari script

निष्क्रान्ते तप्तहेमाभं विततं शंकराश्रमे तस्मिन्सरो महज्जातं विमलं बहुयोजनम् //

Transliteration

niṣkrānte taptahemābhaṃ vitataṃ śaṃkarāśrame tasminsaro mahajjātaṃ vimalaṃ bahuyojanam //

Translation

When that (radiant presence) had emerged, the Śaṅkara-hermitage shone forth like molten gold; and there, a vast lake came into being—spotless and extending for many yojanas.

Word by Word

निष्क्रान्ते (niṣkrānte)when (it/he/that) had come forth/issued out

तप्त-हेम-आभम् (tapta-hema-ābham)having the luster of heated/melted gold

विततम् (vitatam)spread out, expanded, pervading

शंकर-आश्रमे (śaṅkara-āśrame)in Śaṅkara’s hermitage/ashram

तस्मिन् (tasmin)in that place/thereupon

सरः (saraḥ)lake, sacred pool

महत् (mahat)great, vast

जातम् (jātam)arose, was born, came into being

विमलम् (vimalam)pure, stainless, clear

बहु-योजनम् (bahu-yojanam)measuring many yojanas, very extensive.

Speaker

Likely Sūta (narrator) relating the account (dialogue context not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

Shankara (Śaṅkara)

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya; it depicts localized sacred manifestation—an ashram radiance and the arising of a vast, pure lake as a holy feature of the landscape.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic life through tīrtha culture: rulers and householders are encouraged in Purāṇic ethics to protect sacred sites, maintain clean water bodies, and sponsor pilgrimage and ritual purity practices.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual takeaway is the prominence of a vimala (spotless) sarovara near an ashram—suggesting an auspicious water source for स्नान (ritual bathing), purification rites, and hermitage-centered worship; it also aligns with Vastu ideals that emphasize pure water bodies as auspicious landscape elements.