Shloka 26

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

दक्षारिरुद्रस्तपनायुताभः स भास्वता देवरथेन देवः तद्दक्षिणद्वारमरेः पुरस्य रुद्ध्वावतस्थौ भगवांस्त्रिनेत्रः //

Transliteration

dakṣārirudrastapanāyutābhaḥ sa bhāsvatā devarathena devaḥ taddakṣiṇadvāramareḥ purasya ruddhvāvatasthau bhagavāṃstrinetraḥ //

Translation

Rudra—foe of Dakṣa—shone with the brilliance of ten thousand suns. That radiant god, mounted on the chariot of the gods, blocked the southern gate of the enemy’s city and stood firm there—the Blessed Three-Eyed Lord.

Word by Word

• दक्षारिः (dakṣāriḥ): enemy of Dakṣa

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra/Śiva

• तपनायुताभः (tapanāyutābhaḥ): having the radiance of ten thousand suns

• स (sa): he

• भास्वता (bhāsvatā): shining, radiant

• देवरथेन (devarathena): with/on the divine chariot

• देवः (devaḥ): the god

• तत् (tat): that

• दक्षिणद्वारम् (dakṣiṇadvāram): southern gate

• अरेः (areḥ): of the enemy

• पुरस्य (purasya): of the city/fortress

• रुद्ध्वा (ruddhvā): having blocked

• अवतस्थौ (avatastau): stood, remained stationed

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord

• त्रिनेत्रः (trinetraḥ): the Three-Eyed (Śiva).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing Rudra/Śiva in the Devasura battle context

Entities Mentioned

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Daksha
• Trinetra (Three-Eyed Lord)
• Devaratha (divine chariot)
• Asura enemy (areḥ)

Tags

• Shaiva
• Tripura
• Divine warfare
• Iconography
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a martial-theophanic scene where Rudra manifests overwhelming solar radiance and strategically seals the enemy city’s southern gate.

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

By portraying disciplined positioning and gate-control in siege warfare, it indirectly models rājadharma themes—protecting boundaries, choosing strategic posts, and acting decisively against hostile forces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The mention of the city’s “southern gate” (dakṣiṇa-dvāra) highlights fortified urban planning—cardinal-direction gates and their tactical importance—useful for readers searching “Matsya Purana fortress gates” or “Puranic city architecture motifs.”