Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

स्वेदाण्डजोद्भिदो ये वै ये च जीवा जरायुजाः अस्यां निधाय सर्वांस् तान् अनाथान् पाहि सुव्रत //

Transliteration

svedāṇḍajodbhido ye vai ye ca jīvā jarāyujāḥ asyāṃ nidhāya sarvāṃs tān anāthān pāhi suvrata //

Translation

O you of excellent vow, protect all those helpless beings—those born of sweat, those born from eggs, those sprouting from the earth, and those born from the womb—having placed them all within this vessel.

Word by Word

• स्वेदाण्डज-उद्भिदः (sveda-aṇḍaja-udbhidaḥ): sweat-born, egg-born, and earth-sprouting beings

• ये वै (ye vai): whoever indeed

• ये च (ye ca): and those who

• जीवाः (jīvāḥ): living creatures

• जरायुजाः (jarāyujāḥ): womb-born/viviparous beings

• अस्यां (asyāṃ): in this (boat/vessel)

• निधाय (nidhāya): having placed/deposited

• सर्वान् (sarvān): all

• तान् (tān): them

• अनाथान् (anāthān): helpless, without refuge

• पाहि (pāhi): protect

• सुव्रत (suvrata): O one of excellent vow/discipline

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (addressing Lord Matsya)

Entities Mentioned

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Lord Matsya (Vishnu)
• all classes of living beings

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya Avatara
• Protection
• Creation
• Manu

FAQs

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

It frames Pralaya as a crisis where all categories of life become “without refuge,” and divine protection (through Matsya) is sought to preserve them through the flood.

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

Manu’s plea models righteous guardianship: leadership and household dharma include compassion and protection of dependents and the vulnerable—extended here to all living beings.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-rule detail is stated; the ritual significance is devotional supplication (protective prayer) addressed to the divine preserver during Pralaya.