Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

रक्तैः पालीवनैः श्वेतैर् दाडिमैश्चम्पकद्रुमैः बन्धूकैश्च सुबन्धूकैः कुञ्जकानां तु जातिभिः //

Transliteration

raktaiḥ pālīvanaiḥ śvetair dāḍimaiścampakadrumaiḥ bandhūkaiśca subandhūkaiḥ kuñjakānāṃ tu jātibhiḥ //

Translation

และ (สวน/บริเวณ) พึงปลูกไม้พาลีวนะทั้งสีแดงและสีขาว พร้อมทับทิมและต้นจำปา (จัมปกะ), ดอกพันธุูกะและสุพันธุูกะ ตลอดจนพรรณไม้หลากชนิดที่เหมาะแก่การจัดเป็นคุญชะ (ซุ้มพฤกษา)

Word by Word

• रक्तैः: with red (plants/flowers)

• पालीवनैः: with pālīvana trees (a named plant/tree used in garden layout)

• श्वेतैः: with white (plants/flowers)

• दाडिमैः: with pomegranates

• चम्पकद्रुमैः: with champaka trees

• बन्धूकैः: with bandhūka flowers

• च: and

• सुबन्धूकैः: with subandhūka (a variety of bandhūka)

• कुञ्जकानाम्: of bowers/arbors, leafy groves

• तु: indeed/and

• जातिभिः: with kinds/varieties/species.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• pomegranate (dāḍima)
• champaka (campaka)
• bandhūka
• subandhūka
• kuñja (bower/grove)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Garden design
• Sacred groves
• Auspicious trees
• Town planning

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it belongs to a practical, prescriptive passage on auspicious landscaping—how to plant groves and bowers using specific trees and flowers.

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

It supports the king’s and householder’s duty to maintain orderly, auspicious, and pleasing settlements—gardens and groves are part of civic well-being, ritual purity, and the beautification of sacred and residential spaces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse functions as Vāstu-aligned landscaping guidance: selecting specific trees/flowers (champaka, pomegranate, bandhūka) and arranging them to form kuñjas (bowers) enhances the auspiciousness and aesthetic completeness of courtyards, groves, and planned enclosures.