Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

विकृष्टचापा दैत्येन्द्राः सृजन्ति शरदुर्दिनम् इन्द्रचापाङ्कितोरस्का जलदा इव दुर्दिनम् //

Transliteration

vikṛṣṭacāpā daityendrāḥ sṛjanti śaradurdinam indracāpāṅkitoraskā jaladā iva durdinam //

Translation

With bows fully drawn, the lords of the Daityas bring on a gloomy autumn day; like storm-clouds whose chests are marked by Indra’s rainbow, they generate a day of darkness and bad weather.

Word by Word

• vikṛṣṭa-cāpāḥ: with bows drawn back

• daitya-indrāḥ: the chiefs/lords among the Daityas (demons)

• sṛjanti: they produce, unleash, bring forth

• śarad-urdinam: an autumnal spell of foul weather, gloomy day in autumn

• indra-cāpa-aṅkita-uraskāḥ: whose chests/breasts are marked/ornamented by Indra’s bow (rainbow)

• jaladāḥ: clouds, rain-bearers

• iva: like

• durdinam: a dark, stormy, ill-omened day

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice describing the scene)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityas
• Indra (via Indra-cāpa, the rainbow)

Tags

• Battle-Omens
• Daitya
• Indra
• Nature-Simile
• Puranic-Poetics

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead it uses weather—dark, stormy “durdina” and the rainbow—as an omen-like metaphor for the force and dread unleashed by Daitya leaders in battle.

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

Indirectly, it frames warfare as something that ‘darkens the world’ like a storm—supporting the Purāṇic ethic that rulers should restrain violence, act with foresight, and prevent society from falling into chaos and fear.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the key technical note is poetic-astral imagery (Indracāpa/rainbow) used as an atmospheric marker of ominous conflict.