Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Asuras; Birth of Aurva Fire; Countering Tamasī Māyā through ..., Shloka 61

Devanagari script

एषो ऽग्निर् अन्तकाले तु सलिलाशी मया कृतः दहनः सर्वभूतानां सदेवासुररक्षसाम् //

Transliteration

eṣo 'gnir antakāle tu salilāśī mayā kṛtaḥ dahanaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ sadevāsurarakṣasām //

Translation

ในกาลปรลัย ไฟนี้—ซึ่งเราสร้างขึ้น—ย่อมกลายเป็นผู้กลืนกินแม้แต่น้ำ เผาผลาญสรรพสัตว์ทั้งปวง รวมทั้งเหล่าเทวะ อสูร และรากษส

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this

• agniḥ: fire

• antakāle: at the end-time (time of dissolution)

• tu: indeed/then

• salilāśī: water-devouring (consumer of waters)

• mayā: by me

• kṛtaḥ: made/ordained

• dahanaḥ: burner, consuming fire

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings

• sa-deva-asura-rakṣasām: together with gods, Asuras, and Rakṣasas (i.e., all classes of beings).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) speaking to Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Agni (Fire of dissolution)
• Devas
• Asuras
• Rakshasas

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Fire
• Dissolution
• Eschatology
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It describes the pralaya-fire as an all-consuming force ordained by the divine, so intense that it “drinks” the waters and burns every category of being—signaling total cosmic re-absorption.

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

By stressing that even gods and powerful beings perish at pralaya, it underlines impermanence—encouraging rulers and householders to practice dharma, restraint, and merit-making rather than pride in temporary power.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or iconographic rule is stated; ritually, the verse supports the Purāṇic emphasis on time, dissolution, and the purifying symbolism of fire in end-time and funerary contemplations.