Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Purūravas Beholds the Divine Himalayan River

Devanagari script

या बिभर्ति सदा तोयं देवसंघैरपीडितम् पुलिन्दैर्नृपसंघैश्च व्याघ्रवृन्दैरपीडितम् //

Transliteration

yā bibharti sadā toyaṃ devasaṃghairapīḍitam pulindairnṛpasaṃghaiśca vyāghravṛndairapīḍitam //

Translation

She ever bears her water—water not disturbed even by hosts of gods, nor troubled by Pulindas, by bands of kings, or by packs of tigers.

Word by Word

• yā: she/that (river or sacred water)

• bibharti: bears/holds/sustains

• sadā: always

• toyam: water

• deva-saṃghaiḥ: by assemblies/hosts of gods

• apīḍitam: unpressed, unmolested, undisturbed

• pulindaiḥ: by Pulindas (forest-dwelling tribes)

• nṛpa-saṃghaiḥ: by groups of kings

• ca: and

• vyāghra-vṛndaiḥ: by a multitude/pack of tigers

• apīḍitam: untroubled/undisturbed

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing a sacred river/tirtha in the Matsya Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya style passage

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Pulindas
• Nṛpas (kings)
• Vyāghras (tigers)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred rivers
• Purana geography
• Mahatmya
• Pilgrimage

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead it uses a mahatmya-style claim that the sacred water remains undisturbed and sovereign, implying a transcendent purity beyond ordinary worldly forces.

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

By portraying even “bands of kings” as unable to trouble the holy waters, it implicitly teaches restraint and reverence—rulers and householders should protect tirthas, avoid exploitation of sacred resources, and approach them with humility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the verse elevates the water as uniquely fit for bathing, offerings, and purification; in temple practice such ‘untroubled’ waters are ideal for abhiṣeka and tīrtha collection near shrines.