Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

ते पीड्यमाना गुरुभिर् गिरिभिश्च गणेश्वराः कर्तव्यं न विदुः किंचिद् वन्द्यमाधार्मिका इव //

Transliteration

te pīḍyamānā gurubhir giribhiśca gaṇeśvarāḥ kartavyaṃ na viduḥ kiṃcid vandyamādhārmikā iva //

Translation

Crushed by heavy burdens and by mountains, those chiefs of the gaṇa-hosts could discern no duty to be done—like impious men who have forgotten what is worthy of reverence.

Word by Word

• ते (te): those

• पीड्यमाना (pīḍyamānāḥ): being oppressed/crushed

• गुरुभिः (gurubhiḥ): by heavy weights/burdens

• गिरिभिः (giribhiḥ): by mountains

• च (ca): and

• गणेश्वराः (gaṇeśvarāḥ): lords/chiefs of the gaṇas (hosts)

• कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam): what ought to be done/duty

• न (na): not

• विदुः (viduḥ): they knew/understood

• किंचित् (kiṃcit): anything at all

• वन्द्यम् (vandyam): what is to be revered/worshipped

• अधार्मिकाः (adhārmikāḥ): unrighteous/impious people

• इव (iva): as if/like

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (continuing instruction/narration to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Gaṇeśvaras (chiefs of the gaṇas)

Tags

• Dharma
• Adharma
• Moral psychology
• Governance
• Puranic ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is ethical rather than cosmogonic: it uses the image of being crushed by heavy forces to show how beings lose discernment of dharma; it does not directly describe pralaya, but it echoes the puranic theme that overwhelming calamity can accompany adharma.

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

It warns that when one is overwhelmed—by power, pressure, fear, or burdens—one may forget kartavya (duty) and vandyam (what deserves respect). For a king, this means policies made under coercion or arrogance drift into adharma; for a householder, it cautions against neglecting daily obligations and reverence to elders, teachers, and sacred norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-construction rule appears in this verse; the ritual takeaway is the emphasis on vandyam—maintaining reverence (toward deities, elders, and dharma) as a foundation for correct practice.