Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

कार्मुकाणां विकृष्टानां बभूवुर्दारुणा रवाः कालानुगानां मेघानां यथा वियति वायुना //

Transliteration

kārmukāṇāṃ vikṛṣṭānāṃ babhūvurdāruṇā ravāḥ kālānugānāṃ meghānāṃ yathā viyati vāyunā //

Translation

As the bows were drawn back, dreadful sounds arose—like the thunderous rumbling of storm-clouds driven across the sky by the wind at the destined time.

Word by Word

• kārmukāṇām: of bows

• vikṛṣṭānām: being pulled back/drawn

• babhūvuḥ: there arose/there came to be

• dāruṇāḥ: dreadful/terrible

• ravāḥ: sounds/roars

• kāla-anugānām: that follow the proper time/season (at the appointed time)

• meghānām: of clouds

• yathā: like/as

• viyati: in the sky

• vāyunā: by the wind

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Purana narrator describing the battlefield (contextual narration)

Tags

• Battle
• Archery
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Simile
• Portents

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses storm-cloud imagery to convey the terrifying intensity and inevitability of battle sounds, borrowing cosmic-scale natural power as a poetic comparison.

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

It supports the Matsya Purana’s portrayal of kshatriya duty: disciplined readiness for battle and the organized might of an army—where even the act of drawing bows signals the seriousness of protecting order (dharma) through royal force when required.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra or temple-ritual rule is stated here; the verse is primarily a martial simile, useful for understanding Puranic literary style rather than architectural procedure.