Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Greatness of the Vibhūti-Dvādaśī Vow: Pushkara

Devanagari script

लोकैः समस्तैर् नगरवासिभिः सहितो नृपः द्वीपानि सुरलोकं च यथेष्टं व्यचरत्तदा //

Transliteration

lokaiḥ samastair nagaravāsibhiḥ sahito nṛpaḥ dvīpāni suralokaṃ ca yatheṣṭaṃ vyacarattadā //

Translation

Accompanied by all the people—the residents of the city—the king then wandered at will through the islands and even the celestial world (Suraloka).

Word by Word

• लोकैः (lokaiḥ): by/with the people

• समस्तैर् (samastaiḥ): all, entire

• नगरवासिभिः (nagaravāsibhiḥ): by the city-dwellers, citizens

• सहितः (sahitaḥ): accompanied, together with

• नृपः (nṛpaḥ): the king

• द्वीपानि (dvīpāni): islands, regions/continents

• सुरलोकम् (suralokam): the world of the gods, heaven

• च (ca): and

• यथेष्टम् (yatheṣṭam): as desired, at will

• व्यचरत्तदा (vyacarattadā): he roamed/wandered then.

Speaker

• Suta (Purana narrator) describing the king’s actions (narrative voice within Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• nṛpa (king)
• nagaravāsins (citizens)
• dvīpas (islands/regions)
• suraloka (heaven)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Kingship
• Royal progress
• Puranic cosmography
• Civic order

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it instead depicts royal movement across cosmic regions (dvīpas and suraloka), reflecting the Purana’s cosmographic imagination rather than dissolution.

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

It presents an image of the king moving in the company of citizens, implying a model of visible, socially integrated rulership—where the ruler’s actions are public and connected to the welfare and morale of the city-dwellers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the main takeaway is civic context (nagaravāsins) and cosmographic scope (dvīpas/suraloka), which can frame later discussions of sacred geography and royal patronage rather than temple-building rules.