Shloka 32

Matsya Purana — Narasimha’s Victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Catalogue of Apocalyptic Omens

Devanagari script

आवहः प्रवहश्चैव विवहो ऽथ ह्युदावहः परावहः संवहश्च महाबलपराक्रमाः //

Transliteration

āvahaḥ pravahaścaiva vivaho 'tha hyudāvahaḥ parāvahaḥ saṃvahaśca mahābalaparākramāḥ //

Translation

Āvaha, Pravaha, Vivaha, and also Udāvaha; likewise Parāvaha and Saṃvaha—these are (winds) of great strength and mighty force.

Word by Word

• आवहः (āvahaḥ): Āvaha, the wind that brings/carries in

• प्रवहः (pravahaḥ): Pravaha, the wind that drives/propels forward

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• विवहः (vivahaḥ): Vivaha, the wind that conveys/distributes

• अथ (atha): then/also

• हि (hi): indeed

• उदावहः (udāvahaḥ): Udāvaha, the upward-carrying wind

• परावहः (parāvahaḥ): Parāvaha, the outward/far-carrying wind

• संवहः (saṃvahaḥ): Saṃvaha, the gathering/collecting wind

• च (ca): and

• महा-बल-पराक्रमाः (mahā-bala-parākramāḥ): possessed of great power and prowess

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Āvaha
• Pravaha
• Vivaha
• Udāvaha
• Parāvaha
• Saṃvaha

Tags

• Cosmology
• Puranic winds
• World-structure
• Matsya teaching
• Sacred geography

FAQs

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

It identifies powerful cosmic winds that operate within the ordered universe; such forces are typically understood as part of the mechanisms that sustain, move, and can also upheave the worlds during great transitions like Pralaya.

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

By stressing that the cosmos is governed by named, orderly forces, the verse supports a key Purāṇic ethic: a king and householder should uphold order (dharma) in their realm and home, aligning human governance with cosmic regulation rather than disorder.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While not giving a direct building rule, the verse’s focus on directional/cosmic winds underpins later Vāstu thinking: site-planning and ritual orientation are ideally harmonized with natural and cosmic movements, a common rationale in Puranic temple architecture rules.