Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

रुद्रास्त्रिशूलिनः सन्तो वदध्वं बहुशूलताम् भवन्तः केन तत्क्षिप्तं तेजस्तु भवतामपि //

Transliteration

rudrāstriśūlinaḥ santo vadadhvaṃ bahuśūlatām bhavantaḥ kena tatkṣiptaṃ tejastu bhavatāmapi //

Translation

«يا من تحملون قوة رودرا وأنتم مسلّحون بالثُّلاثيّات (التريشولا)، أخبروني بالحقيقة عن هذه القوّة ذات “الثلاثيات الكثيرة”. مَن الذي قذف تلك الطاقة المتوهّجة—وهي طاقة هي لكم أيضًا؟»

Word by Word

• रुद्राः: Rudras/forces of Rudra

• त्रिशूलिनः: trident-bearers

• सन्तः: being/indeed

• वदध्वम्: speak, tell

• बहुशूलताम्: the state/manifestation of many tridents (many-pronged/trident-like assault)

• भवन्तः: you (honorific plural)

• केन: by whom

• तत्: that

• क्षिप्तम्: thrown, cast, hurled

• तेजः: fiery energy, brilliance, power

• तु: indeed/but

• भवताम्: of you/your

• अपि: also/even.

Speaker

• Narrator voice within the episode (a questioning figure addressing the Rudras/trident-bearers; precise named speaker not explicit from the single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudras
• Rudra
• Trishula (trident)
• Tejas (divine energy)

Tags

• Rudra
• Divine Weapons
• Trishula
• Tejas
• Puranic Conflict

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on identifying the source of a sudden, weapon-like surge of “tejas” (divine energy) associated with Rudra’s trident-bearing forces.

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

Indirectly, it models dharmic inquiry: when destructive power appears, one must investigate its source and legitimacy rather than act blindly—an ethical stance relevant to rulers responsible for controlling violence and enforcing order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is conceptual—“tejas” and Rudra’s weapon symbolism often frame protective rites and the theology of divine armaments, but this shloka itself is a direct inquiry in a conflict context.