Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

दिग्लोकपालैर् गणनायकैश्च कृतो महान्सिंहरवो मुहूर्तम् संख्ये विभग्ना विकरा विपादाश् छिन्नोत्तमाङ्गाः शरपूरिताङ्गाः //

Transliteration

diglokapālair gaṇanāyakaiśca kṛto mahānsiṃharavo muhūrtam saṃkhye vibhagnā vikarā vipādāś chinnottamāṅgāḥ śarapūritāṅgāḥ //

Translation

Then, for a while, the guardians of the quarters and the commanders of the hosts raised a mighty, lion-like battle-cry. In the conflict the enemy ranks were shattered—some mangled, some with their legs crippled, some beheaded, their bodies filled through with arrows.

Word by Word

• dik-lokapālaiḥ: by the guardians of the directions (Lokapālas)

• gaṇa-nāyakaiḥ: by the leaders/commanders of the troops

• ca: and

• kṛtaḥ: was made/raised

• mahān: great

• siṃha-ravaḥ: lion-like roar (war-cry)

• muhūrtam: for a muhūrta/for a while

• saṅkhye: in battle

• vibhagnāḥ: broken/shattered

• vikarāḥ: deformed/mutilated

• vipādāḥ: with crippled/broken feet/legs

• chinna-uttamāṅgāḥ: with heads severed

• śara-pūrita-aṅgāḥ: with limbs/bodies filled (pierced) with arrows.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle scene within the Purāṇic narration

Entities Mentioned

• Dikpālas (Lokapālas)
• Gaṇanāyakas (troop-commanders)

Tags

• Battle
• Dikpālas
• Purāṇic warfare
• Divine guardians
• Heroic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a battlefield moment where the Lokapālas and troop-commanders raise a war-cry and the opposing forces are devastated.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of kṣātra-dharma: organized leadership (commanders), protection of the quarters (guardians), and resolute defense against adharma in times of conflict.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is symbolic—Lokapālas represent cosmic order being defended, a theme that later supports temple/ritual cosmology but is not technical in this verse.