Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

गुडाचलस्तृतीयस्तु चतुर्थो हेमपर्वतः पञ्चमस्तिलशैलः स्यात् षष्ठः कार्पासपर्वतः //

Transliteration

guḍācalastṛtīyastu caturtho hemaparvataḥ pañcamastilaśailaḥ syāt ṣaṣṭhaḥ kārpāsaparvataḥ //

Translation

The third is Guḍācala; the fourth is Hemaparvata (the Golden Mountain). The fifth is called Tilaśaila (the Sesame Mountain), and the sixth is Kārpāsaparvata (the Cotton Mountain).

Word by Word

• guḍācalas: Guḍācala (a named mountain)

• tṛtīyas: the third

• tu: indeed/and

• caturthas: the fourth

• hema-parvataḥ: the Golden Mountain (Hemaparvata)

• pañcamas: the fifth

• tila-śailaḥ: Tilaśaila, ‘Sesame Mountain’

• syāt: is said to be/is called

• ṣaṣṭhaḥ: the sixth

• kārpāsa-parvataḥ: Kārpāsaparvata, ‘Cotton Mountain’

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Guḍācala
• Hemaparvata
• Tilaśaila
• Kārpāsaparvata

Tags

• Sacred geography
• Parvata list
• Tirtha-Mahatmya
• Matsya Purana sacred places
• Puranic cosmography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as a sacred-geography catalogue, naming specific mountains as part of the Purana’s mapping of the world and its holy landscape.

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

By identifying revered mountains, the text supports dharmic duties like pilgrimage, gifting, and maintaining sacred sites—activities often sponsored by kings and undertaken by householders to accrue merit (puṇya).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While no explicit Vastu rule is stated, such mountain lists commonly guide ritual topography—choosing auspicious regions for temples, hermitages, and pilgrimage routes, aligning worship with sanctified natural landmarks.