Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Purūravas Beholds the Divine Himalayan River

Devanagari script

तस्यां रूपमदोन्मत्ता गन्धर्वानुगताः सदा मध्याह्नसमये राजन् क्रीडन्त्यप्सरसां गणाः //

Transliteration

tasyāṃ rūpamadonmattā gandharvānugatāḥ sadā madhyāhnasamaye rājan krīḍantyapsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ //

Translation

O King, there bands of Apsarases—ever accompanied by Gandharvas and intoxicated by pride in their own beauty—sport and play at the time of midday.

Word by Word

• तस्याम् (tasyām): there, in that place (fem. loc.)

• रूप-मद-उन्मत्ता (rūpa-mada-unmattā): maddened by the intoxication/pride of beauty

• गन्धर्व-अनुगताः (gandharva-anugatāḥ): accompanied/followed by Gandharvas

• सदा (sadā): always

• मध्याह्न-समये (madhyāhna-samaye): at midday time

• राजन् (rājan): O King

• क्रीडन्ति (krīḍanti): they play/sport

• अप्सरसाम् गणाः (apsarasām gaṇāḥ): groups/companies of Apsarases

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account to the sages; addressing a king within the narrated frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Apsarases
• Gandharvas

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Celestial Beings
• Mahatmya
• Puranic Lore

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a holy locale where celestial beings (Apsarases with Gandharvas) are said to sport at midday, highlighting the site’s otherworldly sanctity rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By addressing “O King,” the text frames sacred geography as relevant to rulership: a king (and householders) should honor tirthas, uphold dharma through pilgrimage and patronage, and recognize places associated with divine presence as supports for public merit and moral order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or temple-building rule appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is the tirtha’s heightened auspiciousness—midday being marked as a potent time—suggesting a favorable window for snāna (sacred bathing), worship, and offerings at that place.