Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Genealogy and Classification of Sacred Fires

Devanagari script

इत्येता योनयो ह्यक्ताः स्थानाख्या जातवेदसाम् स्वारोचिषादिषु ज्ञेयाः सवर्णान्तेषु सप्तसु //

Transliteration

ityetā yonayo hyaktāḥ sthānākhyā jātavedasām svārociṣādiṣu jñeyāḥ savarṇānteṣu saptasu //

Translation

Thus these womb-origins, known as the “abodes” of Jātavedas (Agni), have been declared. They are to be understood in the seven Manvantaras beginning with Svārociṣa, up to the one ending with Sāvarṇa.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• etāḥ: these

• yonayaḥ: origins/womb-sources

• hi: indeed

• uktāḥ: have been stated

• sthāna-ākhyāḥ: termed/known as ‘abodes’ (stations)

• jātavedasām: of Jātavedas (Agni, the all-knowing fire)

• svārociṣa-ādiṣu: in (the Manvantaras) beginning with Svārociṣa

• jñeyāḥ: are to be known/understood

• sāvarṇa-anteṣu: ending with (the) Sāvarṇa (Manvantara)

• saptasu: in the seven.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Jātavedas (Agni)
• Svārociṣa (Manu/Manvantara)
• Sāvarṇa (Manu/Manvantara)
• Manvantaras

Tags

• Manvantara
• Cosmology
• Agni
• Genealogy
• Puranic classification

FAQs

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

It situates Agni’s stated ‘origins/abodes’ within repeating cosmic time (Manvantaras), implying an ordered cyclical cosmos rather than focusing on a single Pralaya event.

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma and ritual continuity across Manvantaras: kings and householders maintain sacrificial fire (Agni/Jātavedas), whose sanctioned ‘stations’ are taught as part of cosmic order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it concerns Agni (Jātavedas) and his ‘sthānas’—a conceptual basis for correct fire-installation and maintenance in Vedic-Puranic rites, though it is not a direct Vāstu/temple-measurement rule.