Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Genealogy and Classification of Sacred Fires

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच यो ऽसाव् अग्निरभीमानी स्मृतः स्वायम्भुवे ऽन्तरे ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रस् तस्मात्स्वाहा व्यजीजनत् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca yo 'sāv agnirabhīmānī smṛtaḥ svāyambhuve 'ntare brahmaṇo mānasaḥ putras tasmātsvāhā vyajījanat //

Translation

Sūta said: In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, that Agni remembered as Abhimānī is held to be a mind-born son of Brahmā; from him Svāhā was born.

Word by Word

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• yaḥ: who/that

• asau: that very

• agniḥ: the fire-god, Agni

• abhīmānī: named Abhimānī

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/known

• svāyambhuve antare: in the Svāyambhuva (Manu’s) period/Manvantara

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā

• mānasaḥ: mind-born

• putraḥ: son

• tasmāt: from him

• svāhā: Svāhā (the sacrificial invocation/Agni’s consort figure)

• vyajījanat: was born/was produced

Speaker

• Suta (Sūta Ugrashravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Agni
• Abhimani
• Brahma
• Svaha
• Svayambhuva Manu

Tags

• Manvantara
• Genealogy
• Agni
• Ritual
• Creation

FAQs

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

It is a creation-lineage statement: it places Agni (as Abhimānī) among Brahmā’s mind-born progeny during the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, indicating orderly cosmic generation rather than dissolution (Pralaya).

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

By grounding the sacrificial formula “Svāhā” in sacred genealogy, the verse supports the householder’s yajña-duty: offerings to Agni are traditionally sealed with “svāhā,” reinforcing disciplined ritual life that sustains dharma in society and kingship.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Svāhā as the key utterance/personified power linked to Agni—central to homa and Vedic offerings; no direct Vāstu/temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.