Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

घण्टाकर्णः शङ्कुकर्णो महाकालश्च पार्षदाः ततश्च सायकैः सर्वान् गणपान्गणपाकृतीन् //

Transliteration

ghaṇṭākarṇaḥ śaṅkukarṇo mahākālaśca pārṣadāḥ tataśca sāyakaiḥ sarvān gaṇapāngaṇapākṛtīn //

Translation

Ghaṇṭākarṇa, Śaṅkukarṇa, and Mahākāla are among the pārṣadas (attendant retinue). Thereafter, with their arrows, they struck down all the Gaṇapas—those of Gaṇapa-form.

Word by Word

• घण्टाकर्णः (ghaṇṭākarṇaḥ): Ghaṇṭākarṇa (a named attendant)

• शङ्कुकर्णः (śaṅkukarṇaḥ): Śaṅkukarṇa (a named attendant)

• महाकालः (mahākālaḥ): Mahākāla (a fierce Śaiva form/name)

• च (ca): and

• पार्षदाः (pārṣadāḥ): attendants, retinue-members

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter/then

• च (ca): also

• सायकैः (sāyakaiḥ): with arrows/missiles

• सर्वान् (sarvān): all

• गणपान् (gaṇapān): Gaṇapas (members/leaders of Śiva’s gaṇas)

• गणपाकृतीन् (gaṇapākṛtīn): those having the form/appearance of Gaṇapas

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing iconographic/retinue details)

Entities Mentioned

• Ghaṇṭākarṇa
• Śaṅkukarṇa
• Mahākāla
• Pārṣadas
• Gaṇapas

Tags

• Iconography
• Śaiva retinue
• Parṣadas
• Temple sculpture
• Pratima Lakshana

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to an iconographic/retinue description, naming Śaiva attendants and describing them as armed (with arrows) in a protective, martial depiction.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharma through temple culture: commissioning correct images of deities and their attendants was a royal/householder merit-duty (dāna and pūjā-support), ensuring orthodox worship and protection symbolism in sacred spaces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It functions as a Pratimā-lakṣaṇa cue: when carving/painting temple figures, specific named parṣadas (Ghaṇṭākarṇa, Śaṅkukarṇa, Mahākāla) are to be represented as armed, emphasizing guardian-like protection within Śaiva iconographic programs.