Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

व्योम्नि चोत्प्लुत्य सहसा तालमात्रं वरायुधैः दृढाहताः पतन् पूर्वं दानवाः प्रमथास्तथा //

Transliteration

vyomni cotplutya sahasā tālamātraṃ varāyudhaiḥ dṛḍhāhatāḥ patan pūrvaṃ dānavāḥ pramathāstathā //

Translation

Leaping suddenly into the sky to the height of a palm-tree, the Dānavas and the Pramathas, struck hard by excellent weapons, fell down headlong.

Word by Word

• व्योम्नि (vyomni): in the sky

• च (ca): and

• उत्प्लुत्य (utplutya): having leapt up

• सहसा (sahasā): suddenly

• तालमात्रम् (tālamātram): to the measure/height of a tāla (palm-tree)

• वरायुधैः (varāyudhaiḥ): with excellent/superior weapons

• दृढाहताः (dṛḍhāhatāḥ): struck firmly/violently

• पतन् (patan): falling

• पूर्वम् (pūrvam): headlong/forward (first, in front)

• दानवाः (dānavāḥ): Dānavas (a class of demons)

• प्रमथाः (pramathāḥ): Pramathas (fierce attendants/host, often linked with Rudra/Śiva)

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle events

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Pramathas

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Divine weapons
• Puranic battle narrative
• Mythology

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a battlefield scene where Dānavas and Pramathas are struck by superior weapons and fall headlong.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic ideal that adharma-driven forces are checked by rightful power; for kings, it echoes the duty to restrain violent disruptors using appropriate force and protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the only technical measure is a simile-like height reference (tāla-mātra), used to describe the leap and fall in combat.