Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Rite and Glory of Meru-Dāna: The Tenfold ‘Gift of Meru’ and Mountain-Offe...

Devanagari script

तीर्थेष्वायतने वापि गोष्ठे वा भवनाङ्गणे मण्डपं कारयेद्भक्त्या चतुरस्रमुदङ्मुखम् प्रागुदक्प्रवणं तद्वत् प्राङ्मुखं च विधानतः //

Transliteration

tīrtheṣvāyatane vāpi goṣṭhe vā bhavanāṅgaṇe maṇḍapaṃ kārayedbhaktyā caturasramudaṅmukham prāgudakpravaṇaṃ tadvat prāṅmukhaṃ ca vidhānataḥ //

Translation

At a tīrtha, in a sanctuary, within the precinct of a cattle-shed, or in a house courtyard, one should devoutly have a maṇḍapa constructed—square in plan and facing north. It should slope toward the east and toward water; likewise, according to rule, it may also be made to face east.

Word by Word

• तीर्थेषु (tīrtheṣu): at sacred fords/pilgrimage places

• आयतने (āyatane): in a holy abode/shrine/sanctuary

• वा अपि (vā api): or also

• गोष्ठे (goṣṭhe): in a cowshed/cattle-enclosure

• वा (vā): or

• भवन-अङ्गणे (bhavana-aṅgaṇe): in the house-courtyard

• मण्डपम् (maṇḍapam): pavilion/ritual hall

• कारयेत् (kārayet): should cause to be made/should construct

• भक्त्या (bhaktyā): with devotion

• चतुरस्रम् (caturasram): square (four-sided)

• उदङ्मुखम् (udaṅmukham): north-facing

• प्राग्-उदक्-प्रवणम् (prāg-udak-pravaṇam): sloping toward the east and toward water (a drainage/slope rule)

• तद्वत् (tadvat): likewise/in the same manner

• प्राङ्मुखम् (prāṅmukham): east-facing

• च (ca): and/also

• विधानतः (vidhānataḥ): according to prescribed rule/ordinance.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, Vastuvidya context)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• tirtha
• mandapa

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Mandapa
• Temple Architecture
• Tirtha
• Householder Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a Vastuvidya instruction describing where and how to construct a maṇḍapa, focusing on orientation and proper slope/drainage.

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

It frames pavilion-building as a regulated, devotional act: a householder (or patron-king) should commission properly oriented structures in homes, shrines, and community spaces, aligning ritual practice with prescribed architectural order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It prescribes a square maṇḍapa, ideally north-facing, with an auspicious/practical slope toward the east and toward water (supporting drainage and ritual purity), and allows an east-facing option when done according to rule.