Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

नर्मदा च नदी पुण्या मार्कण्डेयो महानृषिः भवो वेदाः पुराणानि विद्याभिः सर्वतोवृतम् //

Transliteration

narmadā ca nadī puṇyā mārkaṇḍeyo mahānṛṣiḥ bhavo vedāḥ purāṇāni vidyābhiḥ sarvatovṛtam //

Translation

那尔摩陀河（Narmadā）确为圣河；摩尔甘ḍ耶（Mārkaṇḍeya）乃大圣仙。婆伐（Bhava，即湿婆Śiva）为吠陀、往世书（Purāṇa）及诸学支所环绕遍覆。

Word by Word

• नर्मदा (narmadā): the Narmadā river

• च (ca): and/indeed

• नदी (nadī): river

• पुण्या (puṇyā): sacred, merit-bestowing

• मार्कण्डेयः (mārkaṇḍeyaḥ): Mārkaṇḍeya (sage)

• महानृषिः (mahānṛṣiḥ): great ṛṣi/seer

• भवः (bhavaḥ): Bhava, Śiva

• वेदाः (vedāḥ): the Vedas

• पुराणानि (purāṇāni): the Purāṇas

• विद्याभिः (vidyābhiḥ): by sciences/branches of learning

• सर्वतः (sarvataḥ): on all sides, everywhere

• वृतम् (vṛtam): surrounded, encompassed

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Purāṇic narrator voice (contextual praise-listing within early Matsya Purana discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Narmada
• Markandeya
• Bhava (Shiva)
• Vedas
• Puranas

Tags

• Tirtha
• Sacred Rivers
• Rishis
• Shaiva
• Vedic-Puranic Authority

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it functions as a sanctifying catalogue—praising a sacred river, a revered sage, and Śiva’s all-pervasive grounding in Vedic–Purāṇic knowledge.

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

By elevating tīrthas (like the Narmadā) and authoritative knowledge (Vedas, Purāṇas, vidyās), it implies that rulers and householders should uphold dharma through pilgrimage, reverence to sages, and study/support of sacred learning traditions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural rules are not stated here; ritually, the verse supports tīrtha-related observances—bathing, vows, and offerings associated with the Narmadā and the broader Vedic–Purāṇic framework of worship (including Śaiva devotion).