Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

गृहाण छिन्द्धि भिन्द्धीति खाद मारय दारय इत्यन्योन्यम् अनूच्चार्य प्रययुर्यमसादनम् //

Transliteration

gṛhāṇa chinddhi bhinddhīti khāda māraya dāraya ityanyonyam anūccārya prayayuryamasādanam //

Translation

Shouting to one another, “Seize him! Cut him! Split him! Devour him! Kill him! Tear him apart!”, they cried out in turn and went on to Yama’s abode.

Word by Word

• गृहाण (gṛhāṇa): seize, take hold

• छिन्द्धि (chinddhi): cut

• भिन्द्धि (bhinddhi): split, break open

• खाद (khāda): devour, eat

• मारय (māraya): kill, strike down

• दारय (dāraya): tear, rend

• इति (iti): thus

• अन्योन्यम् (anyonyam): to one another, mutually

• अनूच्चार्य (anūccārya): uttering repeatedly/calling out (in cries)

• प्रययुः (prayayur): they went forth, proceeded

• यमसादनम् (yamasādanam): Yama’s dwelling/abode (realm of death and judgment).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene of Yama-loka (within the Matsya Purana’s discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama

Tags

• Yama-loka
• Naraka
• Karma
• Punishment
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic dissolution; it portrays the post-death punitive sphere—Yama’s realm—emphasizing karmic retribution rather than Pralaya.

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

By vividly depicting the consequences of wrongdoing, it reinforces dharma: rulers should enforce just conduct and householders should avoid harmful, violent, and unethical acts that lead to suffering after death.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule appears here; the verse functions as an ethical warning within Yama-loka/Naraka narration rather than a ritual or building prescription.