Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

स तेन सुप्रहारेण प्रथमं चातिरोपितः हस्तेन वृक्षमुत्पाट्य चिक्षेप गजराडिव //

Transliteration

sa tena suprahāreṇa prathamaṃ cātiropitaḥ hastena vṛkṣamutpāṭya cikṣepa gajarāḍiva //

Translation

Struck first by that excellent blow, he was hurled aside; then, tearing up a tree with his hand, he flung it—like a lordly elephant.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• तेन (tena): by that

• सुप्रहारेण (suprahāreṇa): with a fine/forceful blow

• प्रथमम् (prathamam): first

• च (ca): and

• अतिरोपितः (atiropitaḥ): thrown up/overwhelmed/violently displaced

• हस्तेन (hastena): with (his) hand

• वृक्षम् (vṛkṣam): a tree

• उत्पाट्य (utpāṭya): uprooting/tearing out

• चिक्षेप (cikṣepa): hurled/threw

• गजराड् इव (gajarāḍ iva): like the king/lord of elephants.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) or the running epic-style narrator within the Matsya Purana (combat narration; exact interlocutor not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Gaja (elephant, as simile)

Tags

• Combat
• Heroic feat
• Strength
• Simile
• Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya or cosmology; it is a vivid combat-style depiction of physical force, using the elephant-lord simile to convey overpowering strength.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s admiration for kshatriya-like valor and decisive action in conflict; it illustrates martial prowess rather than prescribing household or royal administrative duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is indicated here; the only notable element is the natural object (a tree) used as an improvised weapon in a narrative combat scene.