Shloka 51

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

मृदितम् उपनिशम्य तारकाख्यं रविदीप्तानलभीषणायताक्षम् हृषितसकलनेत्रलोमसत्त्वाः प्रमथास्तोयमुचो यथा नदन्ति //

Transliteration

mṛditam upaniśamya tārakākhyaṃ ravidīptānalabhīṣaṇāyatākṣam hṛṣitasakalanetralomasattvāḥ pramathāstoyamuco yathā nadanti //

Translation

Hearing that Tāraka had been crushed—he whose long, terrible eyes were like a blazing fire lit by the sun—the Pramathas, those bristling, many‑eyed beings, exulted and roared like thunderclouds.

Word by Word

• mṛditam: crushed, subdued

• upaniśamya: having heard, on hearing

• tārakākhyam: named Tāraka

• ravi-dīpta-anala: fire blazing like the sun

• bhīṣaṇa: dreadful, terrifying

• āyata-akṣam: long-eyed, wide/elongated-eyed

• hṛṣita: delighted, thrilled

• sakala: all, entirely

• netra: eyes

• loma: hair, bristles

• sattvāḥ: beings, creatures

• pramathāḥ: the Pramathas (Śiva’s goblin-like attendants)

• toya-mucaḥ: cloud(s), rain-bearing clouds

• yathā: as, like

• nadanti: roar, bellow, thunder.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice describing the event in epic-purāṇic style)

Entities Mentioned

• Tāraka
• Pramathas
• Ravi (Sun)

Tags

• Tārakāsura
• Śaiva Gaṇas
• Battle Narrative
• Mythic Imagery
• Purāṇic Poetics

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a martial-mythic description: the Pramathas rejoice after Tāraka’s defeat, using thundercloud imagery to convey cosmic-scale victory and upheaval.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces a Purāṇic ethic: the subduing of violent, destructive forces (like Tāraka) restores order (dharma). For kings, it echoes the ideal of protecting society by restraining adharma; for householders, it symbolizes inner restraint over harmful impulses.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the verse is primarily poetic iconography—describing terrifying eyes like sun-fed fire and the Pramathas’ thunderous roar—useful for understanding Purāṇic visualization in ritual storytelling.