Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

विनोदिता ये तु वृषध्वजस्य पञ्चेषवस्ते मकरध्वजेन तत्रासुरेष्वासुरपुंगवेषु स्वाङ्गाङ्गनाः स्वेदयुता बभूवुः //

Transliteration

vinoditā ye tu vṛṣadhvajasya pañceṣavaste makaradhvajena tatrāsureṣvāsurapuṃgaveṣu svāṅgāṅganāḥ svedayutā babhūvuḥ //

Translation

But those who were stirred up by Makaradhvaja—the bannered god of desire, wielder of the five flower-arrows—against Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva), then among the demons and the foremost of the Asuras, their own women became drenched in perspiration, overcome by passion.

Word by Word

• vinoditāḥ: excited/stimulated

• ye: those who

• tu: indeed/but

• vṛṣadhvajasya: of Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)

• pañca-iṣavaḥ: the five arrows (of Kāma)

• te: those/they

• makaradhvajena: by Makaradhvaja (Kāma)

• tatra: there/then

• āsureṣu: among the Asuras

• āsura-puṃgaveṣu: among the foremost of the Asuras

• sva-aṅga-aṅganāḥ: their own women (wives/ladies of their households)

• sveda-yutāḥ: accompanied by sweat, perspiring

• babhūvuḥ: became/occurred.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) continuing the narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)
• Makaradhvaja (Kāma)
• Pañceṣu (the five arrows of Kāma)
• Asuras

Tags

• Kama
• Shiva
• Asuras
• Mythic narrative
• Puranic symbolism

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts the psychological and cosmic power of Kāma (desire) disturbing beings, shown here through the Asuras’ households being overwhelmed by passion.

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

It functions as a cautionary motif: uncontrolled desire can destabilize social order and household discipline, implying the need for self-restraint (dama) and governance of the senses in dharmic life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its significance is symbolic—Kāma’s ‘five arrows’ represent sensory triggers that agitate the mind and body.