Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

और्वानलो ऽपि विकृतिं गमिष्यति युगक्षये विषाग्निश्चापि पातालात् संकर्षणमुखच्युतः भवस्यापि ललाटोत्थस् तृतीयनयनानलः //

Transliteration

aurvānalo 'pi vikṛtiṃ gamiṣyati yugakṣaye viṣāgniścāpi pātālāt saṃkarṣaṇamukhacyutaḥ bhavasyāpi lalāṭotthas tṛtīyanayanānalaḥ //

Translation

युगाच्या शेवटी और्वानलही विकृत, भयानक रूप धारण करील; पाताळातून संकर्षणाच्या मुखातून निघालेली विष-अग्नी, तसेच भव (शिव) यांच्या ललाटातून उत्पन्न तृतीय नेत्राची अग्नीही प्रकट होईल.

Word by Word

• और्वानलः (aurvānalaḥ): the Aurva fire (subterranean/undersea conflagration associated with Sage Aurva)

• अपि (api): even/also

• विकृतिम् (vikṛtim): a changed/terrible form, distortion

• गमिष्यति (gamiṣyati): will go/assume

• युगक्षये (yugakṣaye): at the end of the yuga/age

• विषाग्निः (viṣāgniḥ): poisonous fire, venomous conflagration

• च अपि (ca api): and also

• पातालात् (pātālāt): from Pātāla (netherworld)

• संकर्षण-मुख-च्युतः (saṃkarṣaṇa-mukha-cyutaḥ): discharged/released from the mouth of Saṅkarṣaṇa

• भवस्य (bhavasya): of Bhava (Śiva)

• अपि (api): also

• ललाट-उत्थः (lalāṭotthaḥ): arising from the forehead

• तृतीय-नयन-अनलः (tṛtīya-nayana-analaḥ): the fire of the third eye

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (end-of-age description)

Entities Mentioned

• Aurva (Aurvānala)
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Pātāla
• Bhava (Śiva)
• Third Eye (Tṛtīya-nayana)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Yuganta
• Cosmic Fire
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It lists specific cosmic fires that manifest at yuga-kṣaya—Aurvānala, a poisonous/netherworld fire linked to Saṅkarṣaṇa, and Śiva’s third-eye blaze—indicating dissolution through overwhelming heat and destructive energy.

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

Indirectly, it frames impermanence: kings and householders should pursue dharma, charity, and right conduct knowing worldly power and possessions end in pralaya; the verse functions as a warning against complacency and attachment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; ritually, the verse underscores the supremacy of cosmic fire in dissolution, supporting Purāṇic emphasis on fire-offerings (homa) and purification as symbolic counterpoints to destructive yugānta heat.