Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P...

Devanagari script

गहनैः सर्वतो गूढं चित्रकल्पद्रुमाश्रयम् अनेकाकारबहुलं पृथक्पक्षिकुलाकुलम् //

Transliteration

gahanaiḥ sarvato gūḍhaṃ citrakalpadrumāśrayam anekākārabahulaṃ pṛthakpakṣikulākulam //

Translation

It was concealed on all sides by dense growth, sheltered by wondrous, variegated Kalpadruma wish-fulfilling trees; rich with many diverse forms, and thronged with distinct flocks of birds.

Word by Word

• गहनैः: by dense thickets/with dense growth

• सर्वतः: on all sides

• गूढम्: hidden, concealed

• चित्र: variegated, wondrous, many-colored

• कल्पद्रुम: wish-fulfilling tree (kalpavṛkṣa)

• आश्रयम्: having as refuge/shelter, resting upon

• अनेक: many

• आकार: forms, shapes, kinds

• बहुलम्: abundant, full of

• पृथक्: separate, distinct

• पक्षि: bird

• कुल: group, flock, species

• आकुलम्: crowded, teeming, filled with.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Purana narrator describing the scene (contextual narration within Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Kalpadruma (Kalpavriksha)
• Birds (Pakshi-kula)

Tags

• Sacred grove
• Forest description
• Mythic ecology
• Pilgrimage landscape
• Puranic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is not a Pralaya (dissolution) statement; it is descriptive poetry portraying a hidden, lush, almost otherworldly grove sustained by kalpadruma-like trees and vibrant life.

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

Indirectly, it supports Purāṇic ethics by idealizing protected, flourishing habitats—implying that rulers and householders should preserve sacred groves, maintain biodiversity, and support dharmic stewardship of land.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated; however, the imagery of a secluded, sheltered grove aligns with Purāṇic ideals of selecting serene, life-filled environments for āśramas, hermitages, and sacred precincts.