Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

ततः शरैः प्रमथगणैश्च दानवा दृढाहताश्चोत्तमवेगविक्रमाः भृशानुविद्धास्त्रिपुरं प्रवेशिता यथा शिवश्चक्रधरेण संयुगे //

Transliteration

tataḥ śaraiḥ pramathagaṇaiśca dānavā dṛḍhāhatāścottamavegavikramāḥ bhṛśānuviddhāstripuraṃ praveśitā yathā śivaścakradhareṇa saṃyuge //

Translation

Then the Dānavas—struck hard by the arrows and by the hosts of Śiva’s Pramathas, their finest speed and prowess shattered—were grievously pierced and driven back into Tripura, just as Śiva, in battle, is pressed by the wielder of the discus.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• śaraiḥ: by arrows

• pramatha-gaṇaiḥ: by the troops (hosts) of the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)

• ca: and

• dānavāḥ: the Dānavas (asura clan)

• dṛḍha-āhatāḥ: struck firmly/violently

• ca: and

• uttama: excellent

• vega: speed/impulse

• vikramāḥ: valor, prowess

• bhṛśa: greatly, severely

• anuviddhāḥ: pierced through, transfixed

• tripuram: Tripura (the triple city/fortress)

• praveśitāḥ: made to enter, driven into

• yathā: just as

• śivaḥ: Śiva

• cakra-dhareṇa: by the discus-bearer (Vişṇu)

• saṃyuge: in battle, in combat.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the Tripuradahana battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Pramathas
• Tripura
• Śiva
• Cakradhara (Viṣṇu)

Tags

• Tripura
• Tripuradahana
• Śiva
• Pramathas
• Deva-Asura war

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a martial episode (Tripuradahana) where the Dānavas are forced back into Tripura by Śiva’s forces, emphasizing divine intervention in restoring cosmic order rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it models the dharmic principle of restraining destructive forces: as the gods curb the Dānavas’ aggression, a king should protect society by checking violence and adharma, using disciplined force when necessary.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key term is Tripura, a fortified ‘triple city’ motif; while not giving Vastu rules, it evokes the idea of strongholds/cities as symbolic structures of power that are ultimately vulnerable when aligned against dharma.