Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — Solar–Lunar Motions

Devanagari script

सप्तद्वीपसमुद्राया विस्तारो मण्डलस्य तु इत्येतदिह संख्यातं पुराणे परिमाणतः //

Transliteration

saptadvīpasamudrāyā vistāro maṇḍalasya tu ityetadiha saṃkhyātaṃ purāṇe parimāṇataḥ //

Translation

Thus, in this Purāṇa, the extent of the cosmic circle (maṇḍala)—together with the seven continents and their encircling oceans—has been enumerated here according to its proper measures.

Word by Word

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• द्वीप (dvīpa): continents/island-continents

• समुद्र (samudra): oceans

• -आया (-āyā): of (genitive, referring to the set of dvīpas and samudras)

• विस्तारः (vistāraḥ): extent, expanse

• मण्डलस्य (maṇḍalasya): of the circle/mandala (cosmic disk)

• तु (tu): indeed, and

• इति (iti): thus

• एतत् (etat): this

• इह (iha): here (in this passage)

• संख्यातम् (saṃkhyātam): counted, enumerated, set forth

• पुराणे (purāṇe): in the Purāṇa

• परिमाणतः (parimāṇataḥ): by measure, in terms of measurement/proportion.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for this cosmography section)

Entities Mentioned

• Saptadvīpa
• Samudra
• Maṇḍala
• Purāṇa

Tags

• Cosmography
• Saptadvīpa
• Sacred Geography
• Puranic Measurements
• Bhūgola

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing Pralaya directly; it functions as a concluding statement for a cosmography passage, emphasizing that the Purāṇa has systematically measured and enumerated the world-mandala with its seven dvīpas and oceans.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma by grounding ritual calendars, pilgrimage knowledge, and sacred geography—resources traditionally used by kings for governance of tīrthas and by householders for vrata, dāna, and pilgrimage planning.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While it does not give Vāstu rules, it highlights the idea of precise 'parimāṇa' (measure), a core Purāṇic principle also echoed in temple layout and mandala-based ritual planning—where correct proportions are considered essential.