Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

निशम्य तन्मयस्यैवं दानवास्त्रिपुरालयाः मुहुः सिंहरुतं कृत्वा मयमूचुर्यमोपमाः //

Transliteration

niśamya tanmayasyaivaṃ dānavāstripurālayāḥ muhuḥ siṃharutaṃ kṛtvā mayamūcuryamopamāḥ //

Translation

Hearing Mayā’s words thus, the Dānavas who dwelt in Tripura repeatedly let out lion-like roars and then spoke to Mayā—those fierce ones, like Yama himself.

Word by Word

• niśamya: having heard

• tat: that

• mayasya: of Maya (the architect/demon Maya)

• evaṃ: thus

• dānavāḥ: the Dānavas (a class of Asuras)

• tripura-ālayāḥ: residents of Tripura (the three cities)

• muhuḥ: again and again/repeatedly

• siṃha-rutaṃ: a lion-like roar

• kṛtvā: having made/uttered

• mayam: to Maya

• ūcuḥ: they said/spoke

• yama-upamāḥ: comparable to Yama (terrible, death-like).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing the Dānavas’ reaction; direct speech begins with the Dānavas after this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Maya
• Dānava
• Tripura
• Yama

Tags

• Tripura
• Daitya-Dānava
• Maya
• Puranic Warfare
• Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts the martial mood in the Tripura episode—Dānavas reacting to Maya’s counsel with thunderous roars, setting up ensuing conflict.

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

Indirectly, it illustrates how collective morale and rhetoric can inflame conflict; the Matsya Purana often contrasts such asuric bravado with dharmic restraint expected of rulers and householders.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural significance is implicit: “Maya” is the famed master-architect linked with extraordinary constructions (like Tripura), so the verse situates the narrative around a builder’s strategic role rather than giving a technical Vastu rule.