Matsya Purana — Rite and Layout for Consecrating Ponds, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे तडागस्य समीपतः चतुर्हस्तां शुभां वेदीं चतुरस्रां चतुर्मुखाम् //

Transliteration

prāgudakpravaṇe deśe taḍāgasya samīpataḥ caturhastāṃ śubhāṃ vedīṃ caturasrāṃ caturmukhām //

Translation

Di tempat yang condong ke arah timur dan utara, berhampiran sebuah kolam, hendaklah disediakan sebuah vedī yang mujur berukuran empat hasta, berbentuk segi empat sama, serta mempunyai empat muka (menghadap empat penjuru).

Word by Word

• prāk: eastward

• udak: northward

• pravaṇe: on a slope/slanting ground

• deśe: in a place/region

• taḍāgasya: of a pond/reservoir

• samīpataḥ: near/close by

• catur-hastām: four-hastas in measure

• śubhām: auspicious

• vedīm: altar/platform (ritual/architectural base)

• caturasrām: square

• caturmukhām: four-faced/four-fronted (opening/oriented to four directions)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (context: Vastuvidya guidance in Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Taḍāga (pond/reservoir)
• Vedī (altar/platform)

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu
• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual altar
• Site selection
• Temple/vedi layout

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a Vastuvidya instruction focused on choosing auspicious terrain and specifying the altar’s form and measurements.

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

It supports the duty of establishing orderly, auspicious ritual and civic spaces—guiding rulers/householders to select proper land (east/north slope) and to build correctly measured, directionally aligned platforms for ceremonies or construction rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It prescribes a square, four-direction-facing vedī of four hastas, placed near a water source and on an east/north sloping site—key Vastu markers for auspicious orientation, stability, and ritual suitability.