Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Battle at Tripura: Shiva’s Strategy

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो वै भगवता रुद्रेणेह सुरेश्वरः ययौ तत्त्रिपुरं जेतुं तेन सैन्येन संवृतः //

Transliteration

ityukto vai bhagavatā rudreṇeha sureśvaraḥ yayau tattripuraṃ jetuṃ tena sainyena saṃvṛtaḥ //

Translation

Thus addressed here by the Blessed Lord Rudra, the Lord of the gods set out to conquer that Tripura, surrounded by that very army.

Word by Word

• इति-उक्तः (ity-uktaḥ): thus spoken to/so addressed

• वै (vai): indeed

• भगवता (bhagavatā): by the Blessed Lord

• रुद्रेण (rudreṇa): by Rudra (Śiva)

• इह (iha): here/in this context

• सुरेश्वरः (sureśvaraḥ): the lord of the gods (Indra)

• ययौ (yayau): went/set forth

• तत् (tat): that

• त्रिपुरम् (tripuram): Tripura (the triple city/fortress)

• जेतुम् (jetum): to conquer

• तेन (tena): by/with that

• सैन्येन (sainyena): army/host

• संवृतः (saṃvṛtaḥ): surrounded/encircled/attended by

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) reporting the episode; Rudra is referenced as the one who instructed

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Sureshvara (Indra)
• Tripura

Tags

• Tripura
• Deva-Asura war
• Rudra
• Indra
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it narrates a martial episode where Indra, prompted by Rudra, advances to conquer Tripura.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of acting on righteous counsel and mobilizing forces for the protection of cosmic order—here symbolized by the gods proceeding against a fortified threat.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key term is “Tripura,” a famed triple-fortress/city motif in Purāṇic literature; while no Vāstu rule is stated, the verse situates the narrative around a fortified urban structure central to the Tripura-dahana tradition.