Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

दण्डेन चोग्रेण च धर्मराजः पाशेन चोग्रेण च वारिगोप्ता शूलेन कालेन च यक्षराजो वीर्येण तेजस्वितया सुकेशः //

Transliteration

daṇḍena cogreṇa ca dharmarājaḥ pāśena cogreṇa ca vārigoptā śūlena kālena ca yakṣarājo vīryeṇa tejasvitayā sukeśaḥ //

Translation

Dharmarāja is marked by his fierce staff; the guardian of the waters by his fierce noose; the lord of the Yakṣas by his trident and by Kāla (Time) as his power. Sukeśa is distinguished by valor and radiant splendor.

Word by Word

• daṇḍena: by/with the staff (rod of punishment)

• ca: and

• ogreṇa (ugreṇa): by/with the fierce/terrible (implement/force)

• dharmarājaḥ: Dharmarāja (Yama, lord of justice)

• pāśena: by/with the noose

• vāri-goptā: protector/guardian of waters

• śūlena: by/with the trident/spear

• kālena: by/with Time (death/time-force)

• yakṣa-rājaḥ: king/lord of the Yakṣas (Kubera)

• vīryeṇa: by valor/strength

• tejasvitayā: by radiance/splendor

• sukeśaḥ: Sukeśa (a named being, ‘one with beautiful hair’)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in discourse to Vaivasvata Manu, describing identifying attributes of deities/guardians)

Entities Mentioned

• Dharmaraja (Yama)
• Varigopta (guardian of waters)
• Yaksharaja (Kubera)
• Kala (Time)
• Sukesha

Tags

• Dharma
• Iconography
• Lokapala
• Ayudha
• Cosmology

FAQs

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

It does not narrate Pralaya directly; it frames cosmic order by listing guardians and their powers—especially Kāla (Time) as a governing force, which is central to dissolution themes across the Purāṇas.

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

By foregrounding Dharmarāja with the daṇḍa (rod of punishment), it echoes rājadharma: a king upholds justice through measured discipline, mirroring cosmic law administered by Yama.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse functions like pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic markers): staff, noose, and trident are identifiers used in temple imagery and ritual visualization to distinguish Yama, water-guardians, and Kubera.