Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

ते नानाविधरूपाश्च प्रमथातिप्रमाथिनः ययुः सिंहरवैर् घोरैर् वादित्रनिनदैरपि //

Transliteration

te nānāvidharūpāśca pramathātipramāthinaḥ yayuḥ siṃharavair ghorair vāditraninadairapi //

Translation

Those Pramathas, assuming many strange forms—fierce, violent, and maddening—moved forward, accompanied by dreadful lion-like roars and by the booming clamor of musical instruments as well.

Word by Word

• te: those

• nānā-vidha-rūpāḥ: of many kinds of forms/appearances

• ca: and

• pramathātipramāthinaḥ: exceedingly turbulent Pramathas / those who violently agitate and bewilder

• yayuḥ: went, advanced, marched

• siṃha-ravaiḥ: with lion-roars

• ghoraiḥ: terrible, dreadful

• vāditra-ninadaiḥ: with the resounding noise of instruments/drums

• api: also, even

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Pramathas

Tags

• Ritual
• Portents
• Shiva-Ganas
• Procession
• Sound-Imagery

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; it portrays a fearsome, disorderly surge of beings (Pramathas), using sound (roars, instruments) as an omen-like marker of upheaval rather than universal dissolution.

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

The verse highlights uncontrolled, terrifying forces in society and ritual space; by implication, a king’s duty is to maintain order and protect subjects from disruptive violence, while a householder should avoid inauspicious crowds and remain steady in dharma amid alarming public disturbances.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it foregrounds the role of sound—drums and instruments—in processions, festivals, and temple settings; such soundscape descriptions often accompany accounts of rites and divine/gaṇa gatherings, useful for understanding Matsya Purana-style ceremonial staging around sacred sites.