Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

तामेव मायां गृह्णीष्व मम पुत्रेण निर्मिताम् निरिन्धनामग्निमयीं दुर्धर्षां पावकैरपि //

Transliteration

tāmeva māyāṃ gṛhṇīṣva mama putreṇa nirmitām nirindhanāmagnimayīṃ durdharṣāṃ pāvakairapi //

Translation

Take up that very māyā—fashioned by my son—fiery in nature, needing no fuel, and so unassailable that even other fires cannot overcome it.

Word by Word

• ताम् (tām): that

• एव (eva): indeed/only

• मायाम् (māyām): māyā, divine power/illusory potency

• गृह्णीष्व (gṛhṇīṣva): take up, accept, grasp (imperative)

• मम (mama): my

• पुत्रेण (putreṇa): by (my) son

• निर्मिताम् (nirmitām): made, fashioned, constructed

• निरिन्धनाम् (nirindhanām): without fuel, self-sustaining

• अग्निमयीम् (agnimayīm): consisting of fire/fiery in essence

• दुर्धर्षाम् (durdharṣām): hard to assail, invincible

• पावकैः (pāvakaiḥ): by fires/flames

• अपि (api): even.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya–Manu dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya (implied as speaker)
• Vaivasvata Manu (implied as recipient)
• mama putra (my son—unnamed here)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Māyā
• Divine Protection
• Matsya-Avatara
• Manu Narrative

FAQs

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

It highlights a divinely empowered protective force—called māyā—described as a self-sustaining ‘fuel-less fire,’ suggesting supernatural safeguarding and power operative during Pralaya conditions.

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

It frames right conduct as grounded in obedience to divine instruction: Manu (the archetypal ruler/householder) is told to ‘take up’ the provided protection, implying that leadership includes receptivity to dharmic guidance and reliance on higher order when facing existential crises.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the image of nirindhana-agni points to a supernatural, self-manifesting fire (not dependent on ordinary fuel), a motif used in Purāṇic ritual symbolism to indicate divine presence and inviolable consecratory power rather than a practical Vāstu instruction.