Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

एतदेकार्णवं सर्वं करिष्यन्ति जगत्त्रयम् वेदनावमिमां गृह्य सत्त्वबीजानि सर्वशः //

Transliteration

etadekārṇavaṃ sarvaṃ kariṣyanti jagattrayam vedanāvamimāṃ gṛhya sattvabījāni sarvaśaḥ //

Translation

அவர்கள் இந்த முழு மூவுலகையும் ஒரே மகாசமுத்திரமாக (ஏகார்ணவம்) ஆக்குவார்கள்; ஆகவே வேத-நாவை ஏற்று, எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் உள்ள உயிர்களின் விதை-வடிவங்களைச் சேகரிக்கவும்.

Word by Word

• etat: this

• ekārṇavam: one single ocean (a universal flood)

• sarvam: entirely

• kariṣyanti: they will make/do

• jagat-trayam: the three worlds

• veda-nāvam: the boat of the Veda (Veda as the saving vessel)

• imām: this

• gṛhya: having taken/boarding

• sattva-bījāni: the seeds/embryonic principles of creatures (life-germs)

• sarvaśaḥ: from everywhere/in every manner

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu), instructing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Veda
• Jagat-traya (three worlds)
• Pralaya (implied)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya Avatara
• Manu
• Veda Preservation
• Cosmic Flood

FAQs

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

It describes pralaya as a total inundation where the three worlds become a single ocean, and emphasizes preservation—especially of the Veda and the life-seeds needed for re-creation.

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

Through Manu’s model, it frames dharma as stewardship in crisis: safeguarding sacred knowledge (Veda) and protecting life for future continuity, a kingly duty magnified to cosmic scale.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is the primacy of preserving and carrying the Veda (sacred order) as the guiding ‘vessel’ through periods of upheaval.