Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

पूर्वं महाम्भोधरपर्वताभं द्वारं महान्तं त्रिपुरस्य शक्रः निपीड्य तस्थौ महता बलेन युक्तो ऽमराणां महता बलेन //

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ mahāmbhodharaparvatābhaṃ dvāraṃ mahāntaṃ tripurasya śakraḥ nipīḍya tasthau mahatā balena yukto 'marāṇāṃ mahatā balena //

Translation

Then Śakra (Indra), first, pressed hard upon the great eastern gate of Tripura—vast as a mountain laden with rain-clouds—and stood firm there, endowed with mighty strength, supported by the immense power of the gods.

Word by Word

• pūrvam: in the east/first

• mahāmbhodhara-parvata-ābham: resembling a great cloud-bearing mountain

• dvāram: gate/door

• mahāntam: huge, mighty

• tripurasya: of Tripura

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)

• nipīḍya: having pressed/crushed/forced down

• tasthau: stood (firm)/took position

• mahatā: with great

• balena: strength/power

• yuktaḥ: endowed/armed/supported

• amarāṇām: of the immortals (gods)

• mahatā balena: with great power (emphatic repetition).

Speaker

• Suta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Śakra (Indra)
• Tripura
• Amarāḥ (Devas)

Tags

• Tripura-dahana
• Deva-Asura war
• Indra
• Mythic siege
• Puranic battle narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a battle scene where Indra forcefully attacks Tripura’s eastern gate, emphasizing divine power rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it models steadfastness and strategic positioning under collective support—qualities praised in Purāṇic ethics for rulers and leaders, though the verse itself is a martial description, not a dharma injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights a monumental fortified gateway (dvāra) of Tripura, described with mountain-like grandeur—useful for interpreting Purāṇic imagery of city defenses, though it is not a Vāstu-śāstra rule.