Shloka 49

Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Asuras; Birth of Aurva Fire; Countering Tamasī Māyā through ...

Devanagari script

तस्योरुं सहसा भित्त्वा ज्वालामाली ह्यनिन्धनः जगतो दहनाकाङ्क्षी पुत्रो ऽग्निः समपद्यत //

Transliteration

tasyoruṃ sahasā bhittvā jvālāmālī hyanindhanaḥ jagato dahanākāṅkṣī putro 'gniḥ samapadyata //

Translation

Splitting his thigh all at once, there arose Fire as his son—wreathed in flames, needing no fuel—desiring to burn the worlds.

Word by Word

• तस्य (tasya): of him

• ऊरुम् (ūrum): thigh

• सहसा (sahasā): suddenly, all at once

• भित्त्वा (bhittvā): having split, having burst open

• ज्वालामाली (jvālāmālī): garlanded/wreathed with flames

• हि (hi): indeed

• अनिन्धनः (anindhanaḥ): fuel-less, not requiring fuel

• जगतः (jagataḥ): of the world(s), of the universe

• दहन-आकाङ्क्षी (dahana-ākāṅkṣī): wishing to burn, desirous of conflagration

• पुत्रः (putraḥ): son

• अग्निः (agniḥ): Fire, Agni

• समपद्यत (samapadyata): came into being, arose, manifested.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the cosmic episode within the Matsya Purana’s pralaya narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Agni (Fire)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Fire
• Sarga
• Puranic Cosmology
• Dissolution

FAQs

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

It depicts a pralaya-type threat: a self-sustaining, fuel-less Fire (Agni) manifests with the intent to burn the worlds, signaling a phase of cosmic destruction.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purana’s ethic of restraint and responsible use of fire—since fire can sustain life through ritual and domestic duties, yet symbolizes uncontrolled destruction when ungoverned.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights Agni’s autonomous power beyond ordinary fuel, underscoring why Vedic rites treat fire as a divine presence; architecturally, it serves as a cautionary cosmological motif rather than a direct Vastu rule.