Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — The Burning of Tripura and Rudra’s Victory

Devanagari script

क्षुद्राणां गजयोर्युद्धे यथा भवति संक्षयः देवासुरगणैस् तद्वत् तिमिनक्रक्षयो ऽभवत् //

Transliteration

kṣudrāṇāṃ gajayoryuddhe yathā bhavati saṃkṣayaḥ devāsuragaṇais tadvat timinakrakṣayo 'bhavat //

Translation

Just as, in a battle between elephants, the smaller creatures meet with destruction, so too—amid the hosts of Devas and Asuras—there occurred the destruction of the timi-fish and the makara kind (crocodile-like sea-creatures).

Word by Word

• क्षुद्राणाम्: of the small/weak (creatures)

• गजयोर्: of two elephants (elephant-kind)

• युद्धे: in battle

• यथा: just as

• भवति: happens/comes to be

• संक्षयः: destruction, annihilation, heavy loss

• देवासुरगणैः: by/among the multitudes of Devas and Asuras

• तद्वत्: in the same way

• तिमि: timi (a great sea-fish/whale-like creature)

• नक्र: nakra (crocodile/makara-like aquatic beast)

• क्षयः: destruction

• अभवत्: occurred, came to pass.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the events within the Matsya Purana’s deluge-era conflict narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Asuras
• Timi
• Nakra

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Battle
• Ocean
• Puranic Imagery
• Destruction

FAQs

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

It uses a vivid simile to show how, during overwhelming cosmic conflict, lesser beings are crushed incidentally—an image consistent with pralaya-like devastation where collateral destruction is inevitable.

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

By implication, it warns that when the powerful clash, the vulnerable suffer first—supporting the Purana’s ethical thrust that rulers should prevent “elephant-battles” (unchecked conflicts) that destroy the weak.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule appears in this verse; its value is narrative and symbolic, offering imagery rather than temple-building or rite-procedure instruction.