Shloka 38

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

शेषः सुधन्वा गिरिशश्च देवश् चतुर्मुखो यः स त्रिलोचनश्च ते तारकाख्याभिगता गताजौ क्षोभं यथा वायुवशात्समुद्राः //

Transliteration

śeṣaḥ sudhanvā giriśaśca devaś caturmukho yaḥ sa trilocanaśca te tārakākhyābhigatā gatājau kṣobhaṃ yathā vāyuvaśātsamudrāḥ //

Translation

Śeṣa, Sudhanvā, Girīśa (Śiva), the god Caturmukha (Brahmā), and the three-eyed lord (Trilocana)—when they went forth to meet the one named Tāraka in battle—were thrown into agitation, like oceans churned by the force of the wind.

Word by Word

• śeṣaḥ: Śeṣa (Ananta)

• sudhanvā: Sudhanvā (a divine being/warrior)

• giriśaḥ: Giriśa, Lord of the mountain (Śiva)

• ca: and

• devaḥ: the god

• caturmukhaḥ: the four-faced one (Brahmā)

• yaḥ: who

• saḥ: that (one)

• trilocanaḥ: the three-eyed one (Śiva)

• ca: and

• te: they

• tāraka-ākhya: named Tāraka

• abhigatāḥ: having approached/encountered

• gata-ajau: having gone to battle

• kṣobham: agitation, turmoil

• yathā: just as

• vāyu-vaśāt: by the power/impulse of wind

• samudrāḥ: the oceans

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode (contextual narration within Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Śeṣa (Ananta)
• Sudhanvā
• Giriśa (Śiva)
• Caturmukha (Brahmā)
• Trilocana (Śiva)
• Tāraka
• Samudra (Ocean)
• Vāyu (Wind)

Tags

• Deva-Asura War
• Tāraka
• Śiva
• Brahmā
• Cosmic Imagery

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it uses a cosmic image—oceans agitated by wind—to convey the overwhelming disturbance and tremor caused by the approach of Tāraka in battle.

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

Indirectly, it models a dharmic theme: even mighty leaders can face turmoil when confronting grave threats; steadiness and coordinated action (like the gods assembling) are implied virtues for rulers facing disorder.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-rule detail is stated; the verse is primarily martial and poetic, employing natural imagery (wind-driven oceans) rather than prescribing ritual or architectural procedure.