Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Purūravas Beholds the Divine Himalayan River

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच स ददर्श नदीं पुण्यां दिव्यां हैमवतीं शुभाम् गन्धर्वैश्च समाकीर्णां नित्यं शक्रेण सेविताम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca sa dadarśa nadīṃ puṇyāṃ divyāṃ haimavatīṃ śubhām gandharvaiśca samākīrṇāṃ nityaṃ śakreṇa sevitām //

Translation

Sūta said: He beheld a holy river—divine, auspicious, and born of the Himālaya—thronged with Gandharvas and ever attended upon by Śakra (Indra).

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ uvāca: Sūta said

• saḥ: he

• dadarśa: saw/beheld

• nadīm: river

• puṇyām: holy, merit-bestowing

• divyām: divine, celestial

• haimavatīm: Himalayan, originating in the Himavat

• śubhām: auspicious, благоприятную

• gandharvaiḥ ca: and by Gandharvas (celestial musicians)

• samākīrṇām: filled with, crowded by

• nityam: always, continually

• śakreṇa: by Śakra (Indra)

• sevitām: frequented, attended, honored

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Himavat (Himalaya)
• Gandharvas
• Shakra (Indra)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred River
• Himalayan Pilgrimage
• Devas
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it highlights sacred geography (tīrtha-mahātmya) by portraying a Himalayan river as intrinsically divine and merit-giving, revered even by Indra.

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

It supports the Purāṇic ethic that householders and rulers should honor tīrthas—through pilgrimage, reverence to holy rivers, and supporting sacred places—since such acts cultivate puṇya (religious merit) and social-spiritual order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse signals a tīrtha suitable for स्नान (sacred bathing), worship, and offerings; architecturally it indirectly implies a sanctified riverbank setting where ghāṭas, shrines, and yajña/worship spaces are traditionally established.