Shloka 36

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

स तत्र प्राकारागतांश्च भूताञ् छातन् महानद्भुतवीर्यसत्त्वः चचार चाप्तेन्द्रियगर्वदृप्तः पुराद्विनिष्क्रम्य ररास घोरम् //

Transliteration

sa tatra prākārāgatāṃśca bhūtāñ chātan mahānadbhutavīryasattvaḥ cacāra cāptendriyagarvadṛptaḥ purādviniṣkramya rarāsa ghoram //

Translation

There, that mighty one—endowed with astonishing strength and valor—struck down the beings who had come up to the ramparts. Then, intoxicated with the pride of his well-trained senses and prowess, he roamed about; and, emerging from the city, he let out a terrifying roar.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he/that one

• तत्र (tatra): there

• प्राकार-आगतान् (prākāra-āgatān): those who had come to the rampart/fort-wall

• च (ca): and

• भूतान् (bhūtān): beings/creatures (often hostile spirits or troops in narrative usage)

• छातन् (chātan): striking down/killing (contextual sense: smiting)

• महान् (mahān): great

• अद्भुत (adbhuta): wondrous

• वीर्य (vīrya): strength/heroic power

• सत्त्वः (sattvaḥ): being/warrior of such nature

• चचार (cacāra): he moved about/roamed

• च (ca): and

• आप्त-इन्द्रिय (āpta-indriya): with mastered/controlled senses (or well-trained faculties)

• गर्व (garva): pride

• दृप्तः (dṛptaḥ): arrogant/intoxicated with pride

• पुरात् (purāt): from the city

• विनिष्क्रम्य (viniṣkramya): having gone out/after exiting

• ररास (rarāsa): roared/cried out loudly

• घोरम् (ghoram): terrible/fearsome.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the action within the episode (3rd-person narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• prākāra (rampart/fort wall)
• pura (city/fortified town)
• bhūta (beings/hostile creatures)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Fortifications
• City defense
• Puranic warfare
• Ramparts

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a battlefield/city-defense scene focused on ramparts (prākāra), a fortified city (pura), and a fearsome roar—more aligned with narrative action than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣatriya/royal duty of protecting a fortified settlement—repelling threats at the ramparts and maintaining security of the city. The emphasis on controlled faculties (āpta-indriya) also echoes the ideal of disciplined power, though here it is colored by pride (garva, dṛpta).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it highlights key Vastu/fortification terms—prākāra (rampart) and pura (fortified city)—useful for SEO queries like “Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips on fort walls and city defense,” indicating the narrative setting around defensive urban design rather than a ritual procedure.