Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

बीजपूरैः सकर्पूरैर् गुरुभिश्चागुरुद्रुमैः बिम्बैश्च प्रतिबिम्बैश्च संतानकवितानकैः //

Transliteration

bījapūraiḥ sakarpūrair gurubhiścāgurudrumaiḥ bimbaiśca pratibimbaiśca saṃtānakavitānakaiḥ //

Translation

(Le jardin ou bosquet d’agrément) doit être orné d’arbres de bījapūra (cédrat), de plantes portant le karpūra (camphre), du guru au parfum lourd (résine/bois) et d’arbres d’aguru (bois d’agar), de lianes bimba et de leurs compagnes pratibimba, ainsi que de plantes saṃtānaka et de vitānaka s’étendant comme des berceaux arborés.

Word by Word

• bījapūraiḥ: with bījapūra (citron) trees

• sa-karpūraiḥ: with camphor-bearing plants/with camphor

• gurubhiḥ: with guru (heavy aromatic resin/wood, fragrant substance)

• ca: and

• agurudrumaiḥ: with agarwood (aguru) trees

• bimbaiḥ: with bimba plants/creepers (Coccinia/ivy gourd type)

• ca: and

• pratibimbaiḥ: with pratibimba (a paired/companion plant to bimba

• ca: and

• saṃtānaka: with saṃtānaka (an auspicious ornamental plant/tree, lit. 'bringing continuity/progeny')

• vitānakaiḥ: with vitānaka (spreading canopy, arbor, bower/trellis-like growth).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Bījapūra
• Karpūra
• Aguru
• Bimba
• Pratibimba
• Saṃtānaka
• Vitānaka

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Upavana
• Sacred plants
• Auspicious landscaping
• Temple gardens

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to Vastu-related instructions, listing auspicious fragrant and ornamental plants used to beautify gardens and sacred/royal landscapes.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of maintaining orderly, auspicious surroundings—creating fragrant, shaded groves and well-planted gardens that promote prosperity, comfort, and ritual suitability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It functions as a Vastu landscaping prescription: selecting specific auspicious, fragrant species (citron, camphor, agarwood, bimba, etc.) and canopy-forming bowers (vitānaka) to harmonize a temple/estate garden and enhance sanctity and aesthetics.