Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तु शङ्खानकभेरिमर्दलाः ससिंहनादा दनुपुत्रभङ्गदाः कपर्दिसैन्ये प्रबभुः समन्ततो निपात्यमाना युधि वज्रसंनिभाः //

Transliteration

tatastu śaṅkhānakabherimardalāḥ sasiṃhanādā danuputrabhaṅgadāḥ kapardisainye prababhuḥ samantato nipātyamānā yudhi vajrasaṃnibhāḥ //

Translation

Then, on every side of Kapardi’s host, conches, kettle-drums, war-drums, and mṛdaṅgas resounded with lion-like roars, shattering the sons of Danu, while warriors were struck down in battle like thunderbolts of vajra.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• tu: indeed/and

• śaṅkha: conch

• ānaka: kettle-drum/war-drum

• bherī: large war-drum

• mardalaḥ: mṛdaṅga-type drum

• sa-siṃhanādāḥ: with lion-roars/roaring like lions

• danu-putra: sons of Danu (Dānavas)

• bhaṅga-dāḥ: causing breaking/rout

• kapardi-sainye: in Kapardi’s army

• prababhuḥ: became powerful/rose up/resounded

• samantataḥ: on all sides

• nipātyamānāḥ: being struck down/felled

• yudhi: in battle

• vajra-saṃnibhāḥ: like the vajra (thunderbolt), thunderbolt-like.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battle episode (third-person narration within the Matsya Purana frame dialogue).

Entities Mentioned

• Danuputras (Danavas)
• Kapardi

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Battle narrative
• War drums
• Danavas
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it depicts a war-scene where martial sounds and fierce assault rout the Danu-born demons.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Kshatriya ethos found across the Purana: organized forces, morale-signaling instruments (conch and drums), and the decisive subduing of adharma-aligned foes (here, the Danavas).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple rule is stated; the ritual note is martial—śaṅkha and drums function as auspicious battlefield signals and morale-raising proclamations of power.