Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

मेरुर्महाव्रीहिमयस्तु मध्ये सुवर्णवृक्षत्रयसंयुतः स्यात् पूर्वेण मुक्ताफलवज्रयुक्तो याग्येन गोमेदकपुष्परागैः //

Transliteration

merurmahāvrīhimayastu madhye suvarṇavṛkṣatrayasaṃyutaḥ syāt pūrveṇa muktāphalavajrayukto yāgyena gomedakapuṣparāgaiḥ //

Translation

In the center, Mount Meru is said to be fashioned from great heaps of rice and furnished with three golden trees. On its eastern side it is adorned with pearls and diamonds; on its southern side with gomeda gems and puṣparāga (topaz).

Word by Word

• meruḥ: Mount Meru

• mahā-vrīhi-mayaḥ: made of great (masses of) rice

• tu: indeed

• madhye: in the middle

• suvarṇa-vṛkṣa-traya: three golden trees

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed/associated

• syāt: is said to be

• pūrveṇa: on the eastern side/by the east

• muktā-phala: pearls

• vajra: diamond/adamant

• yuktaḥ: joined with/adorned by

• yāgyena (dakṣiṇena): on the southern side

• gomedaka: gomeda gemstone (hessonite/garnet-like)

• puṣparāga: topaz (yellow gem)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s cosmography; framed discourse traditionally attributed to Lord Matsya’s teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Meru
• Suvarṇa-vṛkṣa (golden trees)
• Muktā (pearls)
• Vajra (diamond)
• Gomedaka
• Puṣparāga

Tags

• Cosmography
• Mount Meru
• Puranic geography
• Gemology
• Sacred landscape

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to cosmography, describing the sacred central mountain (Meru) and its jeweled directions as part of the ordered universe.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic worldview: kings and householders are urged to align ritual, charity, and governance with the cosmic order (dik, center, and sacred geography) that Puranas present as the framework of righteous life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The directional placement of specific gems (east/south) reflects a dik-based symbolism used in ritual layouts and later Vastu thinking—materials and auspicious substances are associated with directions in consecration and sacred-space planning.