Shloka 63

Matsya Purana — Narasimha’s Victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Catalogue of Apocalyptic Omens

Devanagari script

नर्मदा शुभतोया च तथा वेत्रवती नदी गोमती गोकुलाकीर्णा तथा पूर्वसरस्वती //

Transliteration

narmadā śubhatoyā ca tathā vetravatī nadī gomatī gokulākīrṇā tathā pūrvasarasvatī //

Translation

The Narmadā, whose waters are auspicious; the river Vetravatī; the Gomati—thronged with cowherd-settlements—and likewise the ancient (eastern) Sarasvatī.

Word by Word

• नर्मदा (narmadā): the Narmadā river

• शुभ-तोया (śubha-toyā): having auspicious/pure waters

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

• वेत्रवती (vetravatī): the Vetravatī river

• नदी (nadī): river

• गोमती (gomatī): the Gomati river

• गोकुल-आकीर्णा (gokula-ākīrṇā): filled with/abounding in cowherd hamlets (gokulas)

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• पूर्व-सरस्वती (pūrva-sarasvatī): the ancient/eastern Sarasvatī river

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing sacred rivers within the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya flow

Entities Mentioned

• Narmada
• Vetravati
• Gomati
• Purva Sarasvati

Tags

• Tirtha
• Rivers
• Sacred Geography
• Purana
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

This verse is not a pralaya (cosmic dissolution) passage; it functions as sacred geography, naming revered rivers whose waters and associations are praised for religious merit.

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

By highlighting holy rivers, it supports householders’ and rulers’ dharma through tirtha-yatra, bathing, and offerings—acts traditionally encouraged for purification, charity, and maintaining social-religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, these rivers indicate preferred locales for snāna (sacred bathing), tarpana, and dāna; indirectly, such rivers are also classical markers for selecting auspicious temple/settlement sites near pure water sources.