Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — The Battle for Tripura: Portents

Devanagari script

आक्रोशे ऽपि समप्रख्ये तेषां देहनिकृन्तनम् प्रवृत्तं युद्धमतुलं प्रहारकृतनिःस्वनम् //

Transliteration

ākrośe 'pi samaprakhye teṣāṃ dehanikṛntanam pravṛttaṃ yuddhamatulaṃ prahārakṛtaniḥsvanam //

Translation

Even amid their cries—each matching the other in fury—there began among them an unequalled battle: bodies hewn down, resounding with the din born of blows.

Word by Word

• आक्रोशे (ākrośe): amid shouting/cries

• अपि (api): even

• समप्रख्ये (samaprakhye): comparable/equal to one another (in intensity/renown)

• तेषाम् (teṣām): of them

• देह (deha): bodies

• निकृन्तनम् (nikṛntanam): cutting down, hewing, severing

• प्रवृत्तम् (pravṛttam): commenced, set in motion

• युद्धम् (yuddham): battle

• अतुलम् (atulam): incomparable, matchless

• प्रहार (prahāra): blow/strike

• कृत (kṛta): made/caused

• निःस्वनम् (niḥsvanam): sound, clang, reverberation

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene (contextual narration within Matsya Purana)

Tags

• Battle
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Itihasa
• Violence in war
• Narrative episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a vivid battlefield depiction focused on human conflict, cries, and the din of weapon-strikes.

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

It aligns more with kṣatriya-context narration: war is portrayed as intense and bodily destructive, implicitly underscoring the grave responsibility of rulers to weigh conflict carefully and uphold dharma even amid battle.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is purely martial imagery emphasizing sound (niḥsvana) and the violence of combat.