Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

कृतप्रहारातुरदीनदानवं ततस्त्वभज्यन्त बलं हि पार्षदाः स्वर्ज्योतिषां ज्योतिर् इवोष्मवान् हरिर् यथा तमो घोरतरं नराणाम् //

Transliteration

kṛtaprahārāturadīnadānavaṃ tatastvabhajyanta balaṃ hi pārṣadāḥ svarjyotiṣāṃ jyotir ivoṣmavān harir yathā tamo ghorataraṃ narāṇām //

Translation

When the demon host had been struck and was distressed and dispirited, then indeed the attendants of Hari shattered their army. For radiant Hari—like the very light of the heavenly luminaries—drove them back, just as a blazing brilliance dispels the densest darkness for men.

Word by Word

• कृत-प्रहार (kṛta-prahāra): having been struck / after the blow was dealt

• आतुर (ātura): afflicted, distressed

• दीन (dīna): dejected, miserable

• दानवम् (dānavam): the demon(s), daitya host

• ततस् (tatas): then, thereafter

• तु (tu): indeed, moreover

• अभज्यन्त (abhajyanta): they broke, shattered, routed

• बलम् (balam): army, force

• हि (hi): indeed

• पार्षदाः (pārṣadāḥ): attendants, retinue (divine followers)

• स्वः-ज्योतिषाम् (svaḥ-jyotiṣām): of the heavenly lights (celestial luminaries)

• ज्योतिः (jyotiḥ): light, radiance

• इव (iva): like

• उष्मवान् (uṣmavān): blazing, heat-bearing, fiery

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari (Vishnu)

• यथा (yathā): as, just as

• तमः (tamaḥ): darkness

• घोरतरम् (ghorataraṃ): more dreadful, densest

• नराणाम् (narāṇām): of men, for human beings.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing Hari/Vishnu’s side overwhelming the dānavas (contextual attribution within the Purāṇic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Pārṣadas (divine attendants)
• Dānavas (demons)

Tags

• Daitya-damana
• Divine radiance
• Protection of dharma
• Puranic battle imagery
• Vishnu theology

FAQs

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

Direct pralaya mechanics are not described here; instead, the verse uses a cosmic-style metaphor—Hari as radiant jyoti dispelling tamas—to express restoration of order, a theme that also underlies pralaya-and-renewal theology.

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

It frames an ethical model: just as Hari’s clarity (light) overcomes oppressive darkness, a king or householder should remove adharma—fear, injustice, and moral confusion—through disciplined strength guided by dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the key takeaway is symbolic—temple/ritual traditions often treat jyoti (lamp, solar brilliance, sacred fire) as the sign of divine presence that dispels tamas, aligning worship with purification and protection.