Shloka 22

Matsya Purana — Purūravas Beholds the Divine Himalayan River

Devanagari script

यस्यास्तीररुहैः काशैः पूर्णैश्चन्द्रांशुसंनिभैः राजते विविधाकारै रम्यतीरं महाद्रुमैः या सदा विविधैर्विप्रैर् देवैश्चापि निषेव्यते //

Transliteration

yasyāstīraruhaiḥ kāśaiḥ pūrṇaiścandrāṃśusaṃnibhaiḥ rājate vividhākārai ramyatīraṃ mahādrumaiḥ yā sadā vividhairviprair devaiścāpi niṣevyate //

Translation

Her lovely bank shines with reeds of kāśa grass along the shore, bright as the rays of the full moon, and with great trees of many forms. She is ever frequented and revered by many kinds of brāhmaṇas and even by the gods.

Word by Word

• yasyāḥ: of which (river/tīrtha)

• tīra-ruhaiḥ: growing on the bank/shore

• kāśaiḥ: with kāśa reeds (Saccharum spontaneum)

• pūrṇaiḥ: full/complete

• candra-aṃśu-saṃnibhaiḥ: resembling moonbeams

• rājate: shines/is resplendent

• vividhākāraiḥ: of varied forms

• ramya-tīram: having a beautiful bank

• mahā-drumaiḥ: with great trees

• yā: which (she)

• sadā: always

• vividhaiḥ: various

• vipraiḥ: by brāhmaṇas/learned priests

• devaiḥ ca api: and also by gods

• niṣevyate: is visited/attended upon/revered

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing a sacred river/tirtha within the Matsya Purana’s pilgrimage discourse

Entities Mentioned

• Vipras (Brahmanas)
• Devas (gods)
• Kāśa grass

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred river
• Pilgrimage
• Mahatmya
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it praises a sacred riverbank/tīrtha, emphasizing its natural radiance and divine-human visitation as a marker of sanctity.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through tīrtha-sevā: householders (and rulers) are encouraged in Purāṇic ethics to honor holy places, host learned brāhmaṇas, and uphold religious patronage connected to such revered sites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the key point is tīrtha-mahattva: a bank continually visited by vipras and devas is fit for rites like bathing, offerings, and worship; no explicit Vāstu or temple-measurement rule is stated in this verse.