Shloka 27

Matsya Purana — Pṛthu

Devanagari script

वृक्षैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा क्षीरं छिन्नप्ररोहणम् पालाशपात्रे दोग्धा तु शालः पुष्पलताकुलः //

Transliteration

vṛkṣaiśca vasudhā dugdhā kṣīraṃ chinnaprarohaṇam pālāśapātre dogdhā tu śālaḥ puṣpalatākulaḥ //

Translation

And by the trees the Earth was ‘milked’: the milk was a sap-like essence that sprouts again even when cut. The vessel was a palāśa-leaf cup, and the milker was the śāla tree, abundant with flowers and creepers.

Word by Word

• वृक्षैः (vṛkṣaiḥ): by/through the trees

• च (ca): and

• वसुधा (vasudhā): the Earth

• दुग्धा (dugdhā): was milked / yielded her essence

• क्षीरम् (kṣīram): milk, sap-like essence

• छिन्न-प्ररोहणम् (chinna-prarohaṇam): that which sprouts again after being cut (regenerative)

• पालाश-पात्रे (pālāśa-pātre): in a palāśa-leaf vessel/cup

• दोग्धा (dogdhā): the milker (agent who draws out)

• तु (tu): indeed

• शालः (śālaḥ): the śāla tree (Shorea robusta)

• पुष्प-लता-आकुलः (puṣpa-latākulaḥ): filled/abundant with flowers and creepers

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the cosmological-allegorical account within the Purana’s dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Vasudha (Earth)
• Vriksha (Trees)
• Shala tree
• Palasha (Butea monosperma)

Tags

• Creation
• Cosmic Allegory
• Sustenance
• Nature Symbolism
• Purana Cosmology

FAQs

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

It reflects a creation-sustenance motif: Earth yields ‘milk’ (life-essence) through natural agents like trees, emphasizing regeneration (sprouting again after cutting) rather than dissolution.

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

It implies a dharmic ethic of sustainable use: resources may be taken (cut/harvest) in ways that allow renewal, aligning with household and royal duties to protect fertility, forests, and ongoing prosperity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The palāśa-leaf ‘vessel’ points to ritual-material culture (leaf-cups, purity-associated flora) used in offerings and rites; it also supports Vastu-related temple/ritual ecology where specific woods and leaves are prescribed.