Shloka 108

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

सेव्यश्चाप्यभिगम्यश्च स श्रेयांश्चाचलोत्तमः अनुभूयोत्सवं देवा जग्मुः स्वानालयान्मुदा //

Transliteration

sevyaścāpyabhigamyaśca sa śreyāṃścācalottamaḥ anubhūyotsavaṃ devā jagmuḥ svānālayānmudā //

Translation

That supreme mountain is worthy of reverent service and also of being approached in pilgrimage; it is truly most auspicious. Having experienced the festival there, the gods joyfully returned to their own abodes.

Word by Word

• सेव्यः (sevyāḥ): worthy of service/reverence

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• अभिगम्यः (abhigamyaḥ): fit to be approached/visited (as a pilgrimage)

• च (ca): and

• सः (saḥ): that

• श्रेयांस् (śreyāṁs): most auspicious/excellent, bringing welfare

• च (ca): and

• अचल-उत्तमः (acala-uttamaḥ): the best of mountains

• अनुभूय (anubhūya): having experienced/partaken of

• उत्सवम् (utsavam): festival, sacred celebration

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods

• जग्मुः (jagmuḥ): went/returned

• स्व-आलयान् (svān ālayān): to their own dwellings/abodes

• मुदा (mudā): with joy.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting the account within the Matsya Purana’s pilgrimage narrative (likely in dialogue context with sages such as Shaunaka’s group).

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Acala (sacred mountain)
• Utsava (festival)

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred mountain
• Festival
• Pilgrimage
• Mahatmya

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it emphasizes sacred geography—how an auspicious mountain becomes a locus of divine celebration and merit for those who approach and revere it.

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

It supports the dharmic duty of undertaking tīrtha-yātrā and honoring holy sites: a householder (and a king guiding public dharma) should facilitate and participate in visits to worthy sacred places and communal festivals that strengthen religious life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the key term is utsava (festival): it points to organized temple or shrine celebrations at a sacred site, implying periodic worship, offerings, and public rites associated with pilgrimage centers.