Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

नागकेसरवृक्षैश्च सुकेसरमनोहरैः करमर्दैः कासमर्दैर् अरिष्टकवरिष्टकैः रुद्राक्षैर्द्राक्षसम्भूतैः सप्ताह्वैः पुत्रजीवकैः //

Transliteration

nāgakesaravṛkṣaiśca sukesaramanoharaiḥ karamardaiḥ kāsamardair ariṣṭakavariṣṭakaiḥ rudrākṣairdrākṣasambhūtaiḥ saptāhvaiḥ putrajīvakaiḥ //

Translation

Et (l’on plantera) des arbres de nāgakesara—charmants par leurs étamines fines et séduisantes—avec karamarda, kāsamarda, ariṣṭaka et variṣṭaka; ainsi que rudrākṣa, des vignes, saptāhvā et putrajīvaka.

Word by Word

• नागकेसरवृक्षैः (nāgakesaravṛkṣaiḥ): with nāgakesara trees

• च (ca): and

• सुकेसरमनोहरैः (sukesaramanoharaiḥ): charming/beautiful due to fine stamens (lit. ‘good-stamened and delightful’)

• करमर्दैः (karamardaiḥ): with karamarda plants/trees

• कासमर्दैः (kāsamardaiḥ): with kāsamarda (lit. ‘cough-destroyer’, a medicinal plant)

• अरिष्टकवरिष्टकैः (ariṣṭakavariṣṭakaiḥ): with ariṣṭaka and variṣṭaka (auspicious/medicinal trees)

• रुद्राक्षैः (rudrākṣaiḥ): with rudrākṣa trees

• द्राक्षसम्भूतैः (drākṣasambhūtaiḥ): with drākṣā (grape) creepers/vines

• सप्ताह्वैः (saptāhvaiḥ): with saptāhvā (‘seven-named’ plant, traditionally identified as an auspicious/medicinal species)

• पुत्रजीवकैः (putrajīvakaiḥ): with putrajīvaka (lit. ‘that which sustains/causes a son’, a fertility-auspicious plant)

Speaker

• Likely Lord Matsya speaking to Vaivasvata Manu (didactic instruction on auspicious planting within Vastu-oriented chapters)

Entities Mentioned

• Nāgakesara
• Karamarda
• Kāsamarda
• Ariṣṭaka
• Variṣṭaka
• Rudrākṣa
• Drākṣā (grapes)
• Saptāhvā
• Putrajīvaka

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Sacred groves
• Auspicious trees
• Temple gardens
• Medicinal plants

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is a practical Vastu-oriented list of auspicious and useful plants to be cultivated in gardens or sacred groves.

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

It supports the king/householder’s duty to maintain orderly, auspicious, and health-supporting spaces—by planting sacred and medicinal species that promote welfare, ritual propriety, and prosperity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse functions as a Vastu/ritual landscaping guideline: selecting specific trees and plants (including rudrākṣa and auspicious species) for temple courtyards, hermitages, and domestic compounds to enhance sanctity and auspiciousness.