Shloka 77

Matsya Purana — Kailasa

Devanagari script

तत्र संवर्तको नाम सो ऽग्निः पिबति तज्जलम् अग्निः समुद्रवासस्तु और्वो ऽसौ वडवामुखः //

Transliteration

tatra saṃvartako nāma so 'gniḥ pibati tajjalam agniḥ samudravāsastu aurvo 'sau vaḍavāmukhaḥ //

Translation

There, the fire called Saṃvartaka drinks up that water. That ocean-dwelling fire is the Aurva, known as the Mare’s Mouth (Vaḍavāmukha).

Word by Word

• tatra: there

• saṃvartakaḥ: Saṃvartaka (the pralaya-fire)

• nāma: by name

• saḥ: that/he

• agniḥ: fire

• pibati: drinks up, absorbs

• tat-jalam: that water

• agniḥ: fire

• samudra-vāsaḥ: dwelling in the ocean

• tu: indeed/but

• aurvaḥ: Aurva (submarine fire)

• asau: that very one

• vaḍavā-mukhaḥ: Vaḍavāmukha, the Mare’s Mouth (submarine fire at the ocean’s depth)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Saṃvartaka Agni
• Aurva
• Vaḍavāmukha
• Ocean (Samudra)

Tags

• Pralaya
• CosmicFire
• AurvaAgni
• OceanMythology
• MatsyaPurana

FAQs

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

It identifies the pralaya mechanism where the Saṃvartaka fire absorbs/drinks the waters, specifically linked with the submarine Aurva fire (Vaḍavāmukha) said to dwell in the ocean.

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

Indirectly, it supports Matsya Purana’s ethic of impermanence: rulers and householders should govern and live with restraint and dharma, knowing even oceans and worlds are subject to dissolution by cosmic law.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the takeaway is cosmological—recognizing sacred geography and elemental forces (fire and water) that later inform ritual cosmology and temple symbolism.