Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Genealogy and Classification of Sacred Fires

Devanagari script

अथ यः पवमानस्तु निर्मथ्यो ऽग्निः स उच्यते स च वै गार्हपत्यो ऽग्निः प्रथमो ब्रह्मणः स्मृतः //

Transliteration

atha yaḥ pavamānastu nirmathyo 'gniḥ sa ucyate sa ca vai gārhapatyo 'gniḥ prathamo brahmaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ //

Translation

Now, the fire called Pavamāna is the fire produced by churning (the fire-drill). Indeed, that very fire is the Gārhapatya, the householder’s sacred fire, remembered as the first among Brahmā’s fires.

Word by Word

athanow

yaḥwhich/that

pavamānaḥPavamāna (a name/type of sacred fire, ‘purifying’)

tuindeed

nirmathyaḥproduced by churning/attrition (from the fire-drill)

agniḥfire

saḥthat

ucyateis called/is said

saḥ ca vaiand indeed that very

gārhapatyaḥthe Gārhapatya (householder’s fire)

agniḥfire

prathamaḥfirst/primary

brahmaṇaḥof Brahmā (of the Creator)

smṛtaḥis remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

Pavamāna AgniGārhapatya AgniBrahmā

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya; it explains ritual cosmology by tracing the origin-status of the Gārhapatya fire (as Pavamāna, born from churning) and linking it to Brahmā’s primordial order.

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

It supports gṛhastha-dharma: the Gārhapatya is the foundational household fire, traditionally kindled by churning and maintained as the primary domestic-sacrificial fire, from which other rites and fires are derived.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it identifies the correct origin and name of the Gārhapatya fire—Pavamāna, produced by churning—establishing proper procedure and authority for household sacrificial practice.