Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

बाहुभिः परिघाकारैः कृष्यतां धनुषां शराः भटवर्मेषु विविशुस् तडागानीव पक्षिणः //

Transliteration

bāhubhiḥ parighākāraiḥ kṛṣyatāṃ dhanuṣāṃ śarāḥ bhaṭavarmeṣu viviśus taḍāgānīva pakṣiṇaḥ //

Translation

As the warriors drew their bows with arms like iron clubs, the arrows plunged into the soldiers’ armor—like birds darting into a pond.

Word by Word

• बाहुभिः (bāhubhiḥ): with arms

• परिघाकारैः (parighākāraiḥ): shaped like clubs/iron bars (mace-like)

• कृष्यताम् (kṛṣyatām): being drawn/pulled (in the act of drawing)

• धनुषाम् (dhanuṣām): of bows

• शराः (śarāḥ): arrows

• भटवर्मेषु (bhaṭa-varmeṣu): into the warriors’ armor/coats of mail

• विविशुः (viviśuḥ): entered, plunged into

• तडागानि (taḍāgāni): ponds, tanks

• इव (iva): like

• पक्षिणः (pakṣiṇaḥ): birds.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the combat episode (narrative voice of the Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Warriors (bhaṭa)
• Bows (dhanuṣ)
• Arrows (śara)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Yuddha
• Archery
• Kshatriya-duty
• Battle-poetics

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a battlefield image emphasizing the force and speed of arrows during combat.

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

It supports the Rajadharma frame: a king’s duty includes protecting the realm and, when necessary, waging disciplined warfare through trained warriors and effective arms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is taught here; the verse is purely martial, using a poetic simile (birds entering a pond) to describe arrows striking armor.