Matsya Purana — Description of Atri’s Hermitage: Sacred Grove Planning, Shloka 74

Devanagari script

तदाश्रमं श्रमशमनं मनोहरं मनोहरैः कुसुमशतैरलंकृतम् कृतं स्वयं रुचिरमथात्रिणा शुभं शुभावहं च हि ददृशे स मद्रराट् //

Transliteration

tadāśramaṃ śramaśamanaṃ manoharaṃ manoharaiḥ kusumaśatairalaṃkṛtam kṛtaṃ svayaṃ ruciramathātriṇā śubhaṃ śubhāvahaṃ ca hi dadṛśe sa madrarāṭ //

Translation

แล้วกษัตริย์แห่งมทระได้เห็นอาศรมนั้น—งดงามและบรรเทาความเหนื่อยล้า ประดับด้วยดอกไม้งามนับร้อย ซึ่งฤๅษีอัตริจัดแต่งด้วยตนเองอย่างวิจิตร เป็นมงคลและให้มงคลโดยแท้.

Word by Word

• tad-āśramam: that hermitage

• śrama-śamanam: dispelling weariness/fatigue

• manoharam: delightful, captivating

• manoharaiḥ: with charming (things)

• kusuma-śataiḥ: with hundreds of flowers

• alaṃkṛtam: ornamented, decorated

• kṛtam: made, arranged

• svayam: by himself

• ruciram: beautiful, pleasing

• atha: then

• ātriṇā: by Atri (the sage)

• śubham: auspicious

• śubha-āvaham: bringing auspiciousness, conferring good fortune

• ca: and

• hi: indeed

• dadṛśe: saw, beheld

• saḥ: he

• madrarāṭ: the king of Madra.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene (within the Matsya Purana’s royal-episode narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Atri
• Madraraja (King of Madra)

Tags

• Ashrama
• Rishis
• Royal visit
• Auspiciousness
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it highlights a sacred hermitage whose very atmosphere is described as soothing and auspicious, reflecting Purāṇic ideals of sanctified space rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By portraying the Madraraja respectfully approaching and observing a sage’s hermitage, the verse supports the Purāṇic ethic that rulers seek counsel and blessings from ṛṣis, honoring ascetic centers as sources of dharma and well-being.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The hermitage is characterized as “śrama-śamana” (fatigue-removing) and “śubhāvaha” (auspiciousness-bestowing), implying that sacred design and ornamentation—here, floral decoration arranged by the sage—creates a ritually pure, uplifting environment (a key idea also echoed in Matsya Purana sacred-space and vastu sensibilities).