Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — The Gods Seek Śiva’s Refuge: The Cosmic Chariot Prepared for the Burning of T...

Devanagari script

गङ्गा सिन्धुः शतद्रुश्च चन्द्रभागा इरावती वितस्ता च विपाशा च यमुना गण्डकी तथा //

Transliteration

gaṅgā sindhuḥ śatadruśca candrabhāgā irāvatī vitastā ca vipāśā ca yamunā gaṇḍakī tathā //

Translation

The Gaṅgā; the Sindhu (Indus); the Śatadru (Sutlej); the Candrabhāgā (Chenab); the Irāvatī (Ravi); the Vitastā (Jhelum); the Vipāśā (Beas); the Yamunā; and likewise the Gaṇḍakī—these are the renowned sacred rivers.

Word by Word

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): Ganga

• सिन्धुः (sindhuḥ): the Indus river

• शतद्रुः (śatadruḥ): the Sutlej river

• च (ca): and

• चन्द्रभागा (candrabhāgā): the Chenab river

• इरावती (irāvatī): the Ravi river

• वितस्ता (vitastā): the Jhelum river

• विपाशा (vipāśā): the Beas river

• यमुना (yamunā): the Yamuna river

• गण्डकी (gaṇḍakī): the Gandaki river

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Ganga (Gaṅgā)
• Indus (Sindhu)
• Sutlej (Śatadru)
• Chenab (Candrabhāgā)
• Ravi (Irāvatī)
• Jhelum (Vitastā)
• Beas (Vipāśā)
• Yamuna (Yamunā)
• Gandaki (Gaṇḍakī)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Nadi-stuti
• Pilgrimage
• Punya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it catalogs major sacred rivers, reflecting the Purana’s sacred-geography focus rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By naming revered rivers, the verse supports dharmic practice—kings and householders are encouraged in Purāṇic ethics to uphold tīrtha traditions, sponsor pilgrimages/ritual bathing, and protect waterways as sources of public merit (puṇya) and social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, these rivers function as tīrthas for snāna (sacred bathing), japa, and śrāddha-related offerings; architecturally, such lists often guide where ghāṭas, temples, and pilgrimage infrastructure are established along major riverbanks.