Shloka 21

Matsya Purana — The Karmic Cause of Purūravas’ Beauty and Fortune

Devanagari script

तुहिनसदृशहैमवर्णपुञ्जां तुहिनयशाः सरितं ददर्श राजा //

Transliteration

tuhinasadṛśahaimavarṇapuñjāṃ tuhinayaśāḥ saritaṃ dadarśa rājā //

Translation

King Tuhinayaśā beheld the river—its mass of golden hue resembling snow.

Word by Word

• tuḥina-sadṛśa: resembling snow

• haima-varṇa: golden-coloured

• puñjām: a heap/mass, a gathered expanse

• tuhinayaśāḥ: Tuhinayaśā (name of the king)

• saritam: the river

• dadarśa: saw, beheld

• rājā: the king

Speaker

• Suta (Puranic narrator) describing the scene

Entities Mentioned

• Tuhinayaśā
• River (Sarita)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Rivers
• Sacred geography
• Kings
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it focuses on sacred-geographical description, highlighting the river’s luminous, snow-like radiance.

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

It presents a king as a witness to sacred landscapes—supporting the Purāṇic ideal that rulers honor tīrthas and uphold dharma by recognizing and venerating holy rivers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the river’s sanctity and auspicious visual splendour, which typically frames bathing, donation, and pilgrimage acts in tīrtha contexts.