Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

तं नन्दिभुजनिर्मुक्तं मुक्ताफलविभूषितम् पपात वक्षसि तदा वज्रं दैत्यस्य भीषणम् //

Transliteration

taṃ nandibhujanirmuktaṃ muktāphalavibhūṣitam papāta vakṣasi tadā vajraṃ daityasya bhīṣaṇam //

Translation

Then that terrible vajra—released from Nandī’s arm and adorned with strings of pearls—fell upon the demon’s chest.

Word by Word

• tam: that

• nandi-bhuja-nirmuktam: released/let fly from Nandi’s arm

• muktā-phala-vibhūṣitam: adorned with pearl-strings (literally ‘pearl-fruit’)

• papāta: fell/struck down

• vakṣasi: on the chest

• tadā: then/at that moment

• vajram: the thunderbolt/adamantine weapon (vajra)

• daityasya: of the daitya (demon)

• bhīṣaṇam: terrible, fearsome

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Nandi
• Vajra
• Daitya

Tags

• Daitya-vadha
• Divine weapons
• Battle narrative
• Shaiva lore
• Puranic iconography

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on a mythic combat moment where a fearsome vajra strikes a demon, emphasizing divine intervention and the inevitability of adharma’s defeat.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic that destructive force is justified only when directed against adharma—an ideal echoed in rājadharma where punishment (daṇḍa) must be decisive yet righteous.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the main ritual-symbolic takeaway is the vajra as a consecrated emblem of irresistible power used for restoring cosmic order.