Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

तथा शतसहस्राणाम् एकोनाशीतिर् उच्यते सप्तद्वीपसमुद्रायाः पृथिव्याः स तु विस्तरः //

Transliteration

tathā śatasahasrāṇām ekonāśītir ucyate saptadvīpasamudrāyāḥ pṛthivyāḥ sa tu vistaraḥ //

Translation

Likewise, it is stated to be eighty-one hundred-thousands (i.e., 8,100,000) in measure—this is the expanse of the Earth together with its seven continents and oceans.

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise/so

• śata-sahasrāṇām: of hundred-thousands (units of 100,000)

• ekona-aśītiḥ: one-less-than-eighty (i.e., seventy-nine) used idiomatically here with śata-sahasra to indicate a fixed count

• ucyate: is said/is stated

• sapta-dvīpa-samudrāyāḥ: of (the Earth) consisting of seven dvīpas (continents) and oceans

• pṛthivyāḥ: of the Earth

• saḥ: that/this

• tu: indeed

• vistaraḥ: extent/expanse/dimension

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Prithivi
• Sapta-dvipa
• Samudra

Tags

• Cosmography
• Saptadvipa
• Puranic geography
• Measurements
• Bhugola

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a cosmographic measurement, stating the total expanse of the Earth as conceived with seven continents and surrounding oceans.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s ideal of informed rulership and ordered life: knowing the world’s divisions and measures is part of the broader framework of dharma, administration, and pilgrimage-oriented geography.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; however, such cosmographic measures often underpin sacred mapping (mandala thinking) used in temple orientation and ritual geography in later applied traditions.