Shloka 172

Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A...

Devanagari script

तेषां प्रार्थयतां शीतं द्रुमान्तरविसर्पिणाम् दावाग्निः प्रज्वलंश्चैव घोरार्चिर्दग्धपादपः तोयार्थिनः पुरो दृष्ट्वा तोयं कल्लोलमालिनम् //

Transliteration

teṣāṃ prārthayatāṃ śītaṃ drumāntaravisarpiṇām dāvāgniḥ prajvalaṃścaiva ghorārcirdagdhapādapaḥ toyārthinaḥ puro dṛṣṭvā toyaṃ kallolamālinam //

Translation

As they slipped between the trees, praying for coolness, a forest-conflagration blazed up—terrible in flame, consuming the very trees. And those who sought water, looking ahead, saw water heaving, wreathed with garlands of waves.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them

• prārthayatām: of those praying/imploring

• śītam: coolness, cold relief

• druma-antara: between trees

• visarpiṇām: moving/creeping along, spreading through

• dāva-agniḥ: forest fire, wildfire

• prajvalan: blazing

• ca eva: and indeed

• ghora-arciḥ: with dreadful flames

• dagdha-pādapaḥ: with trees burnt/that burns the trees

• toya-arthinaḥ: those seeking water

• puraḥ: in front, ahead

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• toyam: water

• kallola-mālinam: adorned with billows/waves, wave-garlanded (surging).

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice recounting the episode; within the broader Matsya Purana dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Dava-agni (forest fire)
• Toya (water)
• Druma (trees)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Calamity
• Portents
• Nature imagery
• Suffering

FAQs

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

It portrays a pralaya-like inversion of nature—people beg for coolness amid a raging wildfire, yet water appears ahead as a turbulent, wave-filled mass—suggesting overwhelming, uncontrollable elemental forces.

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

By highlighting public distress in disaster conditions, it implicitly supports the Purana’s ethic that rulers and householders should prioritize protection, relief, and provisioning (water, shelter, safe routes) when nature turns hostile.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated, but the imagery (wildfire and surging waters) is a practical reminder behind Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips: choose safer sites, plan drainage and water storage, and use fire-mitigating layouts/materials.