Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — The Cave-Sanctuary: Jewel-Lake

Devanagari script

बिलद्वारसमो देशो यत्र यत्र हिरण्मयः प्रदेशः स तु राजेन्द्र द्वीपे तस्मिन्मनोहरे //

Transliteration

biladvārasamo deśo yatra yatra hiraṇmayaḥ pradeśaḥ sa tu rājendra dvīpe tasminmanohare //

Translation

O best of kings, on that enchanting island the land is like the mouth of a cavern; and here and there the region shines as though made of gold.

Word by Word

• बिल (bila): cave, cavern

• द्वार (dvāra): door, entrance, mouth

• समः (samaḥ): like, equal to

• देशः (deśaḥ): land, tract, region

• यत्र यत्र (yatra yatra): wherever, here and there

• हिरण्मयः (hiraṇmayaḥ): golden, made of gold

• प्रदेशः (pradeśaḥ): area, locality, region

• सः (saḥ): that

• तु (tu): indeed, moreover

• राजेन्द्र (rājendra): O king of kings

• द्वीपे (dvīpe): in the island/continent

• तस्मिन् (tasmin): in that

• मनोहरे (manohare): charming, delightful.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Manu

Tags

• Sacred geography
• Dvipa description
• Puranic cosmography
• Golden land
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse is not directly about Pralaya; it describes the wondrous physical features of an island-region, emphasizing its extraordinary, almost otherworldly terrain and golden appearance.

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

By addressing the king and describing idealized, auspicious terrain, the verse supports a ruler’s broader duty to understand land and regions—knowledge that underlies settlement, protection, and prosperity in Puranic statecraft.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The focus is on land-characteristics (deśa/pradeśa) and auspiciousness; such descriptions align with Vastu-style evaluation of terrain, where notable features and luminous/“golden” qualities signify an exceptional, sacred, or highly auspicious site.