Shloka 35

Matsya Purana — Genealogy and Classification of Sacred Fires

Devanagari script

सर्वस्माद्देवलोकाच्च हव्यं कव्यं भुनक्ति यः पुत्रो ऽस्य सहितो ह्यग्निर् अद्भुतः स महायशाः //

Transliteration

sarvasmāddevalokācca havyaṃ kavyaṃ bhunakti yaḥ putro 'sya sahito hyagnir adbhutaḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ //

Translation

That illustrious, wondrous Fire—present together with a man’s son—partakes of the oblations meant for the gods (havis) and those meant for the ancestors (kavis), drawing them even from every realm, including the world of the gods.

Word by Word

सर्वस्मात्from all (places/realms)

देवलोकात्from the world of the gods

चand

हव्यंoblation offered to the gods (havis)

कव्यंoblation offered to the ancestors/pitṛs (kavya)

भुनक्तिeats/partakes/receives

यःwho

पुत्रःson

अस्यof him (of the householder)

सहितःaccompanied by/along with

हिindeed

अग्निःfire, sacrificial fire

अद्भुतःwondrous, marvelous

सःhe/that

महायशाःgreatly renowned, illustrious.

Speaker

Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu on dharma and śrāddha

Entities Mentioned

AgniDevalokaPitrs (implied by kavya)Putra (son)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it emphasizes ritual cosmology—Agni as the carrier who conveys offerings beyond ordinary space, reaching divine and ancestral realms.

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

It supports gṛhastha-dharma: maintaining sacred fire and sustaining lineage (putra) are presented as essential supports for properly offering havis to devas and kavya to pitṛs through śrāddha and related rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Agni’s function as the mouth of gods and pitṛs and underscores the importance of properly maintained household/sacrificial fire for śrāddha and offerings (havis–kavya).