Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अथ वज्रधरो यमो ऽर्थदः स च नन्दी स च षण्मुखो गुहः / मयम् असुरवीरसम्प्रवृत्तं विविधुः शस्त्रवरैर्हतारयः //

Transliteration

atha vajradharo yamo 'rthadaḥ sa ca nandī sa ca ṣaṇmukho guhaḥ / mayam asuravīrasampravṛttaṃ vividhuḥ śastravarairhatārayaḥ //

Translation

Then Vajra-bearer Indra, Yama, Kubera (the giver of wealth), Nandī, and Ṣaṇmukha Guha attacked Maya, who had advanced at the head of the Asura heroes; with excellent weapons they struck him down, having slain his foes.

Word by Word

• अथ (atha): then

• वज्रधरः (vajradharaḥ): the bearer of the thunderbolt (Indra)

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama, lord of justice/death

• अर्थदः (arthadaḥ): the giver of wealth (Kubera)

• स च (sa ca): and also

• नन्दी (nandī): Nandin, Śiva’s attendant

• षण्मुखः (ṣaṇmukhaḥ): the six-faced one (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• गुहः (guhaḥ): Guha (Skanda)

• मयम् (mayam): Maya (the Asura architect/demon Maya)

• असुरवीर-सम्प्रवृत्तम् (asuravīra-sampravṛttam): advancing/engaged with the Asura heroes (leading their onset)

• विविधुः (vividhuḥ): they struck, smote

• शस्त्रवरैः (śastravaraiḥ): with excellent weapons

• हत-अरयः (hatārayaḥ): having slain enemies/foes (i.e., as foe-slaying heroes)

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Vajradhara)
• Yama
• Kubera (Arthada)
• Nandin
• Skanda/Kārttikeya (Ṣaṇmukha, Guha)
• Maya (Asura)

Tags

• Deva-Asura battle
• Puranic warfare
• Skanda
• Indra
• Mythic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a Deva–Asura battle where major deities and divine leaders strike the Asura Maya with superior weapons.

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

Indirectly, it models the kṣātra ideal of protecting order (dharma) by confronting disruptive forces; a king is expected to act decisively against threats, as the gods do against the Asura leader.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Maya is traditionally famed as an Asura architect; while no Vāstu rule is stated here, the verse’s mention of “Maya” can signal adjacent Puranic traditions about divine vs. Asuric craftsmanship in temple/fortification lore.