Matsya Purana — Intermediate Dissolution, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

संवर्तो भीमनादश्च द्रोणश्चण्डो बलाहकः विद्युत्पताकः शोणस्तु सप्तैते लयवारिदाः //

Transliteration

saṃvarto bhīmanādaśca droṇaścaṇḍo balāhakaḥ vidyutpatākaḥ śoṇastu saptaite layavāridāḥ //

Translation

Saṃvarta, Bhīmanāda, Droṇa, Caṇḍa, Balāhaka, Vidyutpatāka và Śoṇa—bảy vị ấy là những “vân thủy của sự tiêu dung”, tức các mây mưa mang nước của thời Pralaya, tuôn đổ đại hồng thủy khi vũ trụ thu nhiếp.

Word by Word

• saṃvartaḥ: Saṃvarta (name of a pralaya-cloud)

• bhīmanādaḥ: Bhīmanāda, ‘terrible-roaring’ (name of a cloud)

• droṇaḥ: Droṇa (name of a cloud

• caṇḍaḥ: Caṇḍa, ‘fierce’ (name of a cloud)

• balāhakaḥ: Balāhaka, ‘cloud’ (here a specific named cloud)

• vidyutpatākaḥ: Vidyutpatāka, ‘having lightning as its banner’ (name of a cloud)

• śoṇaḥ: Śoṇa, ‘reddish’ (name of a cloud)

• sapta: seven

• ete: these

• laya: dissolution, pralaya

• vāridāḥ: water-givers, rain-clouds

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution for early Pralaya chapters)

Entities Mentioned

• Saṃvarta
• Bhīmanāda
• Droṇa
• Caṇḍa
• Balāhaka
• Vidyutpatāka
• Śoṇa
• Pralaya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Deluge
• Cosmology
• Matsya-Avatara
• Puranic-Clouds

FAQs

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

It identifies seven specific “dissolution-clouds” (laya-vāridāḥ) that unleash the pralaya rains, portraying cosmic dissolution as a structured, named set of forces rather than a random catastrophe.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ethic of preparedness and humility: rulers and householders should recognize impermanence and align life with dharma, since even the world-order can be withdrawn through pralaya.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is cosmological. Its practical takeaway is contextual—temples/rites are framed within cyclical time, where pralaya marks the limits of worldly constructions.