Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

रुद्रदत्तं तदा दीप्तं दीप्तानलसमप्रभम् वज्रं वज्रनिभाङ्गस्य दानवस्य ससर्ज ह //

Transliteration

rudradattaṃ tadā dīptaṃ dīptānalasamaprabham vajraṃ vajranibhāṅgasya dānavasya sasarja ha //

Translation

Then he hurled the blazing vajra—bestowed by Rudra—shining with the splendor of a flaming fire, against that Dānava whose limbs were like adamant.

Word by Word

• रुद्रदत्तम् (rudradattam): bestowed by Rudra (Śiva)

• तदा (tadā): then

• दीप्तम् (dīptam): blazing, radiant

• दीप्तानल-सम-प्रभम् (dīptānala-sama-prabham): having a luster equal to a blazing fire

• वज्रम् (vajram): thunderbolt, adamantine weapon

• वज्र-निभ-अङ्गस्य (vajra-nibha-aṅgasya): of him whose limbs are like vajra (adamant)

• दानवस्य (dānavasya): of/against the Dānava (demon)

• ससर्ज (sasarja): he cast, hurled, released

• ह (ha): indeed (emphatic particle).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode to the sages (frame narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra
• Vajra
• Danava

Tags

• DivineWeapons
• Rudra
• BattleNarrative
• DaityasDanavas
• PuranicMythology

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a martial episode where a Rudra-bestowed vajra is hurled against a Dānava, emphasizing divine intervention through consecrated weaponry.

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

Indirectly, it models the dharmic principle that power should be wielded as a sanctioned instrument against disruptive forces (adharma), not as personal wrath—mirroring the king’s duty to protect order using legitimate means.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual undertone is the idea of a weapon empowered by a deity (Rudra-datta), reflecting the Puranic theme of consecration and divine authorization.