Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

वितानकं चोपरि पञ्चवर्णम् अम्लानपुष्पाभरणं सितं च इत्थं निवेश्यामरशैलमग्र्यं मेरोस्तु विष्कम्भगिरीन् क्रमेण //

Transliteration

vitānakaṃ copari pañcavarṇam amlānapuṣpābharaṇaṃ sitaṃ ca itthaṃ niveśyāmaraśailamagryaṃ merostu viṣkambhagirīn krameṇa //

Translation

Above it one should place a five-coloured canopy, and adorn it with white garlands of unfading flowers. Thus, having duly set up the foremost divine mountain, Amaraśaila, one should then arrange in proper sequence the supporting mountains of Meru.

Word by Word

• वितानकम् (vitānakam): canopy/overhead awning

• च (ca): and

• उपरि (upari): above

• पञ्चवर्णम् (pañcavarṇam): five-coloured

• अम्लान (amlāna): unfading/not withering

• पुष्प (puṣpa): flowers

• आभरणम् (ābharaṇam): ornament/adornment

• सितम् (sitam): white

• च (ca): and

• इत्थम् (ittham): thus/in this manner

• निवेश्य (niveśya): having placed/installed/arranged

• अमरशैलम् (amaraśailam): the divine mountain (lit. ‘immortal-mountain’), Amaraśaila

• अग्र्यम् (agryam): foremost/excellent

• मेरोः (meroḥ): of Meru

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• विष्कम्भगिरीन् (viṣkambhagirīn): supporting/buttressing mountains

• क्रमेण (krameṇa): in order/step by step

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the Matsya Purana’s descriptive-ritual discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Meru
• Amaraśaila
• Viṣkambha-giri (supporting mountains)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Puranic Cosmography
• Ritual Arrangement
• Temple Iconography
• Sacred Geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on cosmographic/ritual arrangement—how the divine mountain and Meru’s supporting ranges are to be set out in ordered fashion.

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

It reflects the duty to uphold dharma through correct ritual order and sacred layout—commissioning or performing rites with proper materials (canopy, pure white unfading garlands) and correct sequence, which is a householder/royal responsibility in Purāṇic practice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies ritual-architectural decor: a five-coloured canopy (vitāna) placed above, white unfading floral adornments, and a prescribed sequential placement of Meru’s supporting mountains—language closely aligned with Vastu/installation procedures.