Shloka 9
Matsya Purana — Cosmic Architecture of Sun–Moon and the ‘Houses of the Gods’
अर्चिष्मान्पचनो ऽग्निस्तु निष्प्रभः सौम्यलक्षणः यश्चासौ मण्डले शुक्ले निरूष्मा न प्रकाशते //
arciṣmānpacano 'gnistu niṣprabhaḥ saumyalakṣaṇaḥ yaścāsau maṇḍale śukle nirūṣmā na prakāśate //
A fire that is blazing and well-burning is regarded as an auspicious sign; but if that fire is lusterless—though appearing gentle in its features—and, even within a bright (white) ritual circle, gives no heat and does not shine, it is considered an inauspicious manifestation.
FAQs
It does not describe Pralaya directly; it focuses on reading ritual omens through Agni—whether fire manifests as luminous and heating (auspicious) or dull and heatless (inauspicious).
For a king or householder sponsoring rites (yajña, consecration, installation), the verse teaches practical discernment: proceed when ritual fire is strong and radiant, and reconsider or correct ritual conditions when the fire becomes lusterless and heatless—an indicator of flawed conditions or inauspicious timing.
It points to a consecration/ritual diagnostic: within the maṇḍala (ritual ground/diagram), Agni should shine and give heat; a heatless, non-luminous fire is treated as an adverse sign, prompting purification, correction of offerings, or reconsideration of the rite.