Shloka 37

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

ततः स दैत्योत्तमपर्वताभो यथाञ्जसा नाग इवाभिमत्तः निवारितो रुद्ररथं जिघृक्षुर् यथार्णवः सर्पति चातिवेलः //

Transliteration

tataḥ sa daityottamaparvatābho yathāñjasā nāga ivābhimattaḥ nivārito rudrarathaṃ jighṛkṣur yathārṇavaḥ sarpati cātivelaḥ //

Translation

Then that foremost Daitya—mountain-like in stature—rushed straight on like a maddened elephant; intent on seizing Rudra’s chariot, he was checked, as the ocean is held back even when it surges beyond its proper shore.

Word by Word

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

• स (sa): he

• दैत्योत्तम (daityottama): the foremost among the Daityas

• पर्वताभ (parvatābha): mountain-like, resembling a mountain

• यथाञ्जसा (yathāñjasā): directly, straightforwardly, at once

• नाग (nāga): elephant

• इव (iva): like

• अभिमत्त (abhimatta): maddened, intoxicated with fury

• निवारितः (nivāritaḥ): restrained, checked, held back

• रुद्ररथम् (rudra-ratham): Rudra’s chariot

• जिघृक्षुः (jighṛkṣuḥ): wishing to seize, eager to grasp

• यथा (yathā): as

• अर्णवः (arṇavaḥ): the ocean

• सर्पति (sarpati): moves/surges/crawls forward

• च (ca): and

• अतिवेलः (ativelaḥ): overstepping the shoreline/tide-limit, beyond the proper boundary

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice describing the battle episode within the Matsya Purana’s discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Rudra’s chariot
• Ocean (Arṇava)

Tags

• Daitya–Deva battle
• Rudra
• Epic similes
• Cosmic order
• Restraint of force

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses the ocean’s boundary (tide-limit) as a metaphor for cosmic order—power may surge, but it is ultimately restrained by a higher regulating principle.

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

Through the image of restraining an over-surging ocean, the verse implicitly supports the Matsya Purana’s ethical ideal that rulers (and householders over their senses) must check violent excess and keep forces within lawful limits (maryādā).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule appears; the key takeaway is the concept of boundary (velā/maryādā), a principle that later aligns with Vastu thinking about proper limits, enclosures, and regulated space.