Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

ते तारकाख्येन मयेन मायया संमुह्यमाना विवशा गणेश्वराः नाशक्नुवंस्ते मनसापि चेष्टितुं यथेन्द्रियार्था मुनिनाभिसंयताः //

Transliteration

te tārakākhyena mayena māyayā saṃmuhyamānā vivaśā gaṇeśvarāḥ nāśaknuvaṃste manasāpi ceṣṭituṃ yathendriyārthā muninābhisaṃyatāḥ //

Translation

Those leaders of the celestial hosts (gaṇeśvaras), bewildered and overpowered by the māyā (illusion) produced by the asura named Tāraka, were unable to make even a movement in their minds—just as sense-objects become powerless when a sage has thoroughly restrained the senses.

Word by Word

• ते (te): they

• तारकाख्येन (tārakākhyena): by the one named Tāraka

• मयेन (mayena): by the demon/illusionist (maya)

• मायया (māyayā): by illusion, magical delusion

• संमुह्यमाना (saṃmuhyamānāḥ): being completely bewildered

• विवशा (vivaśāḥ): helpless, overpowered

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

• न अशक्नुवन् (na aśaknuvan): they were not able

• ते (te): they

• मनसा अपि (manasā api): even with the mind

• चेष्टितुम् (ceṣṭitum): to act, to make an effort/movement

• यथा (yathā): just as

• इन्द्रियार्थाः (indriyārthāḥ): objects of the senses

• मुनिना (muninā): by a sage

• अभिसंयताः (abhisaṃyatāḥ): thoroughly restrained, fully controlled (i.e., by restraint of the senses)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relating the episode within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Tāraka
• Māyā (illusion)
• Gaṇeśvaras (leaders of the divine hosts)
• Muni (sage, as an analogy)

Tags

• Māyā
• Deva-Asura conflict
• Mind-control
• Yoga analogy
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it illustrates māyā (delusive power) in a conflict narrative, showing how illusion can immobilize even powerful beings—an ethical-philosophical point rather than a cosmological dissolution account.

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

By analogy, it warns that leaders can become ineffective when overwhelmed by deception or uncontrolled passions; the implied dharma is vigilance, discernment, and self-mastery—qualities essential for kingship and responsible household governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated directly; the verse instead uses a yogic comparison (sense-objects subdued by restraint), which can support ritual discipline in general but does not give temple-building or iconographic rules.