Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Prologue to the Matsya Purana and the Manu–Pralaya Rescue Narrative

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रेण चैकेन षोडशाङ्गुलविस्तृतः सो ऽभवन्मत्स्यरूपेण पाहि पाहीति चाब्रवीत् //

Transliteration

ahorātreṇa caikena ṣoḍaśāṅgulavistṛtaḥ so 'bhavanmatsyarūpeṇa pāhi pāhīti cābravīt //

Translation

In just one day and night, it grew to a breadth of sixteen aṅgulas; then, taking the form of a fish, it cried out, “Protect me, protect me!”

Word by Word

• ahorātreṇa: by a day-and-night

• ca: and

• ekena: by one (single)

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen

• aṅgula-vistṛtaḥ: expanded to the measure of aṅgulas in breadth/extent

• saḥ: it/he

• abhavat: became

• matsya-rūpeṇa: in the form of a fish

• pāhi pāhi: protect (me), protect (me)

• iti: thus

• ca: and

• abravīt: said/cried

Speaker

• The fish (Lord Matsya in a concealed, preliminary manifestation)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya

Tags

• Matsya-Avatara
• Pralaya
• Manu narrative
• Divine protection
• Miraculous growth

FAQs

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

It sets the miraculous prelude to the Pralaya episode: the fish rapidly increases in size, signaling a divine intervention that will soon relate to protection during the coming deluge.

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

The plea “Protect me” anticipates Manu’s dharmic role as a protector of beings; it frames protection (rakṣaṇa) and compassionate guardianship as a core duty aligned with righteous leadership and household ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is narrative and theological—introducing the avatāra through a sign (rapid growth) and a request for protection.