Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Nārāyaṇa as Haṃsa in the Cosmic Ocean: Vedic Yajña-Puruṣa and Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vi...

Devanagari script

अटंस्तीर्थप्रसङ्गेन पृथिवीं तीर्थगोचराम् आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि देवतायतनानि च //

Transliteration

aṭaṃstīrthaprasaṅgena pṛthivīṃ tīrthagocarām āśramāṇi ca puṇyāni devatāyatanāni ca //

Translation

Roaming about on the pretext of visiting sacred fords, he traverses the earth—made accessible through tīrthas—also visiting holy hermitages and the sanctuaries (temples) of the gods.

Word by Word

• अटन् (aṭan): roaming, wandering

• तीर्थ-प्रसङ्गेन (tīrtha-prasaṅgena): on the occasion/pretext of pilgrimage, in connection with visiting tīrthas

• पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm): the earth

• तीर्थ-गोचराम् (tīrtha-gocarām): reachable/within the range by means of tīrthas, traversed through pilgrimage-circuits

• आश्रमाणि (āśramāṇi): hermitages, ashrams

• च (ca): and

• पुण्यानि (puṇyāni): holy, meritorious

• देवतायतनानि (devatāyatanāni): abodes of deities, temples/shrines

• च (ca): and

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s teaching in a pilgrimage-context; speaker not explicit in this single verse

Tags

• Tirtha
• Pilgrimage
• Ashrams
• TempleWorship
• SacredGeography

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on sacred travel—moving across the world through tīrthas, ashrams, and deity-temples.

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

It supports the dharmic ideal that a ruler or householder should periodically undertake tīrtha-yātrā—seeking merit, guidance from holy āśramas, and renewal of vows through temple visitation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The term devatāyatana highlights the ritual centrality of temples as “abodes of the deity,” implying regular darśana and worship at consecrated shrines—key for understanding Matsya Purana’s broader temple-oriented religiosity.