Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

नागं तु नागाधिपतेः शताक्षं मयो विदार्येषुवरेण तूर्णम् यमं च वित्ताधिपतिं च विद्ध्वा ररास मत्ताम्बुदवत्तदानीम् //

Transliteration

nāgaṃ tu nāgādhipateḥ śatākṣaṃ mayo vidāryeṣuvareṇa tūrṇam yamaṃ ca vittādhipatiṃ ca viddhvā rarāsa mattāmbudavattadānīm //

Translation

Then Maya swiftly pierced that Nāga—Śatākṣa, chief of the serpent-lords—with his foremost, rending arrow; and having struck Yama and also the Lord of Wealth, he roared at that moment like a raging, rain-laden cloud.

Word by Word

• nāgam: the Nāga (serpent-being)

• tu: indeed/then

• nāgādhipateḥ: of the lord of the Nāgas/serpent-kings

• śatākṣam: Śatākṣa (the hundred-eyed one

• mayaḥ: Maya (the mighty figure named Maya)

• vidārya-iṣu-vareṇa: with an excellent arrow that rends/pierces

• tūrṇam: swiftly

• yamam: Yama (lord of death)

• ca: and

• vitta-adhipatim: the lord of wealth (Kubera)

• ca: also

• viddhvā: having pierced/struck

• rarāsa: roared

• matta-ambuda-vat: like an intoxicated/frenzied cloud (thundering rain-cloud)

• tadānīm: at that very time/then.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle events (third-person narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Maya
• Nāga
• Śatākṣa
• Yama
• Kubera (Vittādhipati)

Tags

• Battle
• Lokapālas
• Nāgas
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmogony; it is a battlefield description emphasizing martial power and the humiliation of cosmic guardians (like Yama and Kubera) within a mythic conflict.

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

Indirectly, it illustrates the Purāṇic ideal that power must be restrained by dharma: even exalted figures can be overcome in adharma-driven conflict, a reminder for rulers to avoid pride and to uphold righteous conduct rather than mere force.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu, iconography, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is primarily poetic warfare narration using a thundercloud simile to convey ferocity.