Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

विद्युन्माली स दैत्येन्द्रो गिरीन्द्रसदृशद्युतिः आदाय परिघं घोरं ताडयामास नन्दिनम् //

Transliteration

vidyunmālī sa daityendro girīndrasadṛśadyutiḥ ādāya parighaṃ ghoraṃ tāḍayāmāsa nandinam //

Translation

That Vidyunmālī, lord of the Daityas, radiant like the king of mountains, seized a dreadful iron club (parigha) and struck Nandin.

Word by Word

• विद्युन्माली (vidyunmālī): Vidyunmālī (a Daitya named Vidyunmālī)

• स (sa): that/he

• दैत्येन्द्रः (daityendraḥ): lord of the Daityas

• गिरीन्द्र-सदृश-द्युतिः (girīndra-sadṛśa-dyutiḥ): having splendor like the lord of mountains (i.e., mountain-like, majestic radiance)

• आदाय (ādāya): having taken/seized

• परिघम् (parigham): an iron club/bar, bludgeon

• घोरम् (ghoram): terrible, fearsome

• ताडयामास (tāḍayāmāsa): struck, beat, smote

• नन्दिनम् (nandinam): Nandin (Śiva’s attendant/bull emblem).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Vidyunmālī
• Daityas
• Nandin

Tags

• Daitya battle
• Shaiva-Vaishnava mythology
• Puranic warfare
• Tripura motif
• Epic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to a martial mythic episode, emphasizing the clash between Daitya forces and Śiva’s side (through Nandin).

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

Indirectly, it illustrates the Purāṇic ethic that power and splendor (dyuti) are tested in conflict; later dharma sections frame such strength as legitimate only when aligned with righteous protection, not daityic aggression.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught in this verse; its technical focus is on weaponry (parigha) and battle-description conventions used in Purāṇic narration.