Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

पश्चाच्च गारुत्मतनीलरत्नैः सौम्येन वैदूर्यसरोजरागैः श्रीखण्डखण्डैरभितः प्रवालैर् लतान्वितः शुक्तिशिलातलः स्यात् //

Transliteration

paścācca gārutmatanīlaratnaiḥ saumyena vaidūryasarojarāgaiḥ śrīkhaṇḍakhaṇḍairabhitaḥ pravālair latānvitaḥ śuktiśilātalaḥ syāt //

Translation

Further, on the western side, let the surface be a floor of pearl-oyster stone, adorned with garuḍa-like blue gems, gentle-hued cat’s-eye and ruby, set with pieces of sandalwood, and bordered on all sides with coral, embellished with creeper-like motifs.

Word by Word

• paścāt: in the west/afterwards

• ca: and

• gārutmata-nīla-ratnaiḥ: with blue gems described as ‘gārutmata’ (garuḍa-like/garuḍa-associated), i.e., deep-blue gemstones

• saumyena: with gentle/pleasing hue, auspiciously mild

• vaidūrya: cat’s-eye gem (chrysoberyl)

• saroja-rāgaiḥ: with lotus-red gems, i.e., ruby/red precious stones

• śrīkhaṇḍa-khaṇḍaiḥ: with fragments/pieces of sandalwood

• abhitaḥ: on all sides/around

• pravālaiḥ: with coral

• latānvitaḥ: endowed with creepers/creeper-ornamentation

• śukti-śilā-talaḥ: a floor/surface (tala) of śukti-stone (pearl-oyster/mother-of-pearl-like stone)

• syāt: should be/let it be.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Vastu/architectural discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Garuḍa (implied by gārutmata)
• Vaidūrya (cat’s-eye gem)
• Pravāla (coral)
• Śrīkhaṇḍa (sandalwood)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Puranic temple architecture rules
• Sacred flooring materials
• Gemstone ornamentation
• Directional Vastu (west)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the Matsya Purana’s Vastu/architectural guidance, describing auspicious materials and ornamentation for a built space, specifically associated with the western side.

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

It reflects the duty to build and maintain auspicious, well-ordered sacred or elite spaces—an aspect of royal and household patronage in the Purana—by following prescribed materials, directional aesthetics, and purity-oriented design.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies a west-side flooring scheme using śukti-stone (mother-of-pearl/pearl-oyster-like stone) and auspicious luxury materials (cat’s-eye, ruby, coral, sandalwood), implying Vastu-based directional decoration and sanctifying aesthetics in temple/ritual architecture.