Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

तारकाख्यपुरे तस्मिन् सुराः शूराः समन्ततः सशस्त्रा निपतन्ति स्म सपक्षा इव भूधराः //

Transliteration

tārakākhyapure tasmin surāḥ śūrāḥ samantataḥ saśastrā nipatanti sma sapakṣā iva bhūdharāḥ //

Translation

In that city called Tāraka, the heroic gods, armed on every side, rushed down from all directions—like mountains with wings descending.

Word by Word

तारकाख्यपुरेin the city named Tāraka

तस्मिन्in/at that (place)

सुराःthe gods (Devas)

शूराःvaliant/heroic

समन्ततःon all sides/everywhere

सशस्त्राःarmed/weapon-bearing

निपतन्ति स्मthey fell upon/charged down (in the past narrative)

सपक्षाःwinged/with wings

इवlike/as if

भूधराःmountains

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator, reporting the events)

Entities Mentioned

Devas (Surāḥ)Tārakākhyapura (City of Tāraka)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a martial descent of the Devas upon Tārakākhyapura, using vivid cosmic imagery rather than describing dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ideal that protectors of order (here, the Devas) act decisively against forces threatening dharma—an image often echoed in royal duty to defend the realm and uphold righteousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule appears; the only spatial cue is the fortified urban setting (“the city named Tāraka”), serving as a narrative backdrop for the battle.