Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

दानवा धर्मकामाणां नैषो ऽवसर इत्युत शक्तो हन्तुं किमात्मानं जातिदोषाद् विबृंहसि //

Transliteration

dānavā dharmakāmāṇāṃ naiṣo 'vasara ityuta śakto hantuṃ kimātmānaṃ jātidoṣād vibṛṃhasi //

Translation

“O Dānava, for those who seek dharma and righteous aims, this is not the proper occasion.” Having said so, though able to strike, why do you puff yourself up because of a fault of birth—mere pride in lineage?

Word by Word

• दानवा (dānavā): O Dānava/demon

• धर्मकामाणाम् (dharmakāmāṇām): of those who desire dharma/righteous aims

• न (na): not

• एषः (eṣaḥ): this

• अवसरः (avasaraḥ): occasion/proper time

• इति (iti): thus

• उक्त्वा/उत (uktvā/uta): having said/indeed

• शक्तः (śaktaḥ): able/capable

• हन्तुम् (hantum): to strike/kill

• किम् (kim): why/what for

• आत्मानम् (ātmānam): oneself

• जातिदोषात् (jātidoṣāt): due to the defect of birth/caste-lineage (as a ground for pride)

• विबृंहसि (vibṛṃhasi): you boast, swell with pride.

Speaker

• Likely Vaivasvata Manu (or a righteous interlocutor) addressing a Dānava within a moral discourse in Matsya Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava
• Dharma

Tags

• Dharma
• Niti
• Humility
• Ethics
• Self-control

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches ethical restraint—acting only at the proper time and rejecting arrogance rooted in lineage.

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

It aligns with rajadharma and household ethics: even when one has power to punish or retaliate, one should act with timing, propriety, and humility, not from ego or birth-pride.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the takeaway is a general dharmic principle—self-control and right occasion—which can guide ritual conduct (proper timing) indirectly.