Shloka 50

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

यमवरुणमहेन्द्ररुद्रवीर्यस् तव यशसो निधिर्धीर तारकाख्यः सकलसमरशीर्षपर्वतेन्द्रो युद्ध्वा यस्तपति हि तारको गणेन्द्रैः //

Transliteration

yamavaruṇamahendrarudravīryas tava yaśaso nidhirdhīra tārakākhyaḥ sakalasamaraśīrṣaparvatendro yuddhvā yastapati hi tārako gaṇendraiḥ //

Translation

Endowed with the prowess of Yama, Varuṇa, Mahendra (Indra), and Rudra, the steadfast one named Tāraka became a very treasury of your fame. Like a mountain-lord standing at the head of every battlefield, that Tāraka, having fought, scorches his foes indeed—together with the chiefs of the Gaṇas.

Word by Word

• यम (Yama): lord of death/justice

• वरुण (Varuṇa): lord of waters, cosmic order

• महेन्द्र (Mahendra/Indra): king of the gods

• रुद्र (Rudra): fierce form of Śiva

• वीर्य (vīrya): valor, potency

• तव (tava): your

• यशसः (yaśasaḥ): of glory/fame

• निधिः (nidhiḥ): treasure, storehouse

• धीर (dhīra): steadfast, resolute

• तारकाख्यः (tārakākhyaḥ): named Tāraka

• सकल (sakala): all, entire

• समर (samara): battle, war

• शीर्ष (śīrṣa): head, forefront

• पर्वतेन्द्रः (parvatendraḥ): lord of mountains (metaphor: unshakable champion)

• युद्ध्वा (yuddhvā): having fought

• यः (yaḥ): who

• तपति (tapati): burns, scorches, torments

• हि (hi): indeed

• तारकः (tārakaḥ): Tāraka

• गणेन्द्रैः (gaṇendraiḥ): with the chiefs/leaders of the Gaṇas

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the Tāraka episode to the sages (contextual attribution within Purāṇic narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Rudra
• Tāraka
• Gaṇas (Gaṇendra)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Tāraka
• Puranic warfare
• Divine powers
• Skanda cycle

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmological dissolution; it is focused on martial mythology, describing Tāraka’s composite divine-like prowess and his destructive force in battle.

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

Indirectly, it elevates ideals of steadfastness (dhīratā), strategic strength, and the public-facing consequence of heroic action (yaśas/fame). In Purāṇic ethics, such imagery is often used to frame kṣātra-dharma—courage, endurance, and leadership in conflict—though the verse itself is a battle description rather than a direct injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple iconography, or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its significance is mythic and poetic, using “mountain-lord” imagery to convey battlefield dominance.