Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच मघवा तु निहन्तुं तानसुरानमरेश्वरः लोकपाला ययुः सर्वे गणपालाश्च सर्वशः //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca maghavā tu nihantuṃ tānasurānamareśvaraḥ lokapālā yayuḥ sarve gaṇapālāśca sarvaśaḥ //

Translation

Sūta said: Maghavā (Indra), the lord of the immortals, set out to slay those Asuras; and all the Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds), along with the leaders of their attendant hosts, went forth on every side.

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta (the narrator)

• uvāca: said

• maghavā: Maghavā/Indra

• tu: indeed/then

• nihantum: to slay, destroy

• tān: those

• asurān: Asuras (anti-gods/demonic beings)

• amara-īśvaraḥ: lord of the immortals (Indra)

• loka-pālāḥ: guardians of the worlds (Dikpālas)

• yayuḥ: went, marched forth

• sarve: all

• gaṇa-pālāḥ: leaders/guardians of the hosts (attendant troops)

• ca: and

• sarvaśaḥ: everywhere, on all sides.

Speaker

• Suta

Entities Mentioned

• Suta
• Maghava (Indra)
• Asuras
• Lokapalas (Dikpalas)
• Gana-palas

Tags

• Devasura war
• Indra
• Lokapalas
• Cosmic guardianship
• Puranic battle narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts cosmic order being defended in historical-mythic time, with Indra and the Lokapālas mobilizing to suppress the Asuras.

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

By analogy, it presents the dharmic duty of a ruler/guardian: to act decisively against forces that disrupt social and cosmic order, and to coordinate allied protectors for the common good.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified here; the key takeaway is the cosmological motif of the Lokapālas (directional guardians), which later informs directional sanctity in temple orientation and protective deities.