Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Legend of Acchodā: Pitṛloka

Devanagari script

अच्छोदं नाम च सरः पितृभिर्निर्मितं पुरा अच्छोदा तु तपश्चक्रे दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रकम् //

Transliteration

acchodaṃ nāma ca saraḥ pitṛbhirnirmitaṃ purā acchodā tu tapaścakre divyaṃ varṣasahasrakam //

Translation

There is a lake named Acchoda, fashioned long ago by the Pitṛs, the ancestral Fathers. And Acchodā performed austerities for a thousand divine years.

Word by Word

• अच्छोदं (acchodaṃ): ‘Acchoda’ (name)

• नाम (nāma): named/called

• च (ca): and

• सरः (saraḥ): lake

• पितृभिः (pitṛbhiḥ): by the Pitṛs/ancestral Fathers

• निर्मितं (nirmitaṃ): made/constructed

• पुरा (purā): formerly/long ago

• अच्छोदा (acchodā): Acchodā (a female named being/personage)

• तु (tu): indeed/and then

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity/ascetic practice

• चक्रे (cakre): performed/did

• दिव्यं (divyaṃ): divine (celestial measure)

• वर्षसहस्रकम् (varṣa-sahasrakam): a thousand years

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, continuing the adhyaya’s sacred-site narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Acchoda (lake)
• Pitṛs (ancestral Fathers)
• Acchodā

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Geography
• Pitṛs
• Tapas
• Puranic Lore

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it highlights sacred geography—how a tirtha (Acchoda lake) is said to be created by the Pitṛs and sanctified through prolonged tapas.

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

By foregrounding the Pitṛs and a tirtha linked to them, the verse aligns with the householder’s duty of pitṛ-kārya (ancestral rites) and honoring sacred places associated with ancestral merit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the key significance is Pitṛ-association: a lake ‘made by the Pitṛs’ functions as a potent tirtha for śrāddha and ancestral offerings; no explicit Vāstu/temple-building rule is stated in this verse.