Shloka 55

Matsya Purana — Maya’s Nectar-Reservoir in Tripura and the Revival of the Slain in the Tripur...

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां देववरिष्ठाभ्याम् अन्वितः स रथोत्तमः अनायतनम् आसाद्य सीदते गुणवानिव //

Transliteration

tābhyāṃ devavariṣṭhābhyām anvitaḥ sa rathottamaḥ anāyatanam āsādya sīdate guṇavāniva //

Translation

Accompanied by those two foremost of the gods, that excellent chariot, upon reaching an unfit place—ground without proper footing or support—sank down, as though it were a noble steed grown weary.

Word by Word

• ताभ्याम् (tābhyām): by/with those two

• देववरिष्ठाभ्याम् (devavariṣṭhābhyām): with the two best among the gods

• अन्वितः (anvitaḥ): accompanied, attended

• सः (saḥ): that/he

• रथोत्तमः (rathottamaḥ): the finest chariot

• अनायतनम् (anāyatanam): a place without proper base/support, unsuitable ground

• आसाद्य (āsādya): having reached, arriving at

• सीदते (sīdate): sinks, settles down, becomes stuck

• गुणवान् (guṇavān): endowed with excellence/nobility

• इव (iva): as if, like.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relating the episode within the Matsya Purana’s narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• two foremost gods (devavariṣṭau)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Narrative
• Divine Assistance
• Journey
• Symbolism

FAQs

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

Directly, it does not describe cosmic dissolution; it uses a narrative image—an excellent chariot sinking on unsuitable ground—which can be read as a motif of instability when conditions (āyatana/support) are lacking, a theme often echoed in Pralaya-era settings.

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

The verse implies a practical ethic: even the “best vehicle” fails on improper ground—suggesting that rulers and householders must choose proper foundations (right place, right conditions, right counsel) before undertaking major actions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The term anāyatana (“without a proper base/support”) aligns with Vāstu logic: stability depends on a suitable site and foundation; it serves as a reminder that selecting firm, appropriate ground is essential before building or installing anything sacred or functional.