Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

स मयं प्रेक्ष्य गणपः प्राह काञ्चनसंनिभः विनाशस्त्रिपुरस्यास्य प्राप्तो मय सुदारुणः अनेनैव गृहेण त्वम् अपक्राम ब्रवीम्यहम् //

Transliteration

sa mayaṃ prekṣya gaṇapaḥ prāha kāñcanasaṃnibhaḥ vināśastripurasyāsya prāpto maya sudāruṇaḥ anenaiva gṛheṇa tvam apakrāma bravīmyaham //

Translation

Seeing me, the gaṇa-chief—shining like gold—spoke: “A most dreadful destruction of this Tripura has been brought about by me. Therefore, depart at once by this very house; thus I tell you.”

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• मयम्/मयां (mayaṃ): me (acc.)

• प्रेक्ष्य (prekṣya): having seen

• गणपः (gaṇapaḥ): the leader of the gaṇas / gaṇa-chief

• प्राह (prāha): said

• काञ्चनसंनिभः (kāñcana-saṃnibhaḥ): resembling gold, golden-hued

• विनाशः (vināśaḥ): destruction

• त्रिपुरस्य (tripurasya): of Tripura

• अस्य (asya): of this

• प्राप्तः (prāptaḥ): has come, has been brought about

• मया (mayā): by me

• सुदारुणः (sudāruṇaḥ): very terrible, exceedingly dreadful

• अनेन एव (anena eva): by this very

• गृहेण (gṛheṇa): by the house / through this dwelling (as a route)

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• अपक्राम (apakrāma): depart, withdraw, go away

• ब्रवीमि (bravīmi): I say

• अहम् (aham): I

Speaker

• Gaṇapa (a gaṇa-chief attendant, associated with Śiva’s retinue)

Entities Mentioned

• Gaṇapa (gaṇa-chief)
• Tripura

Tags

• Tripura-daha
• Shaiva lore
• Divine warning
• Deva-Asura conflict
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya; it depicts a localized, catastrophic destruction—Tripura’s imminent ruin—announced as an enacted divine/heroic outcome.

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

The verse emphasizes prudent withdrawal in the face of unavoidable calamity: when destruction is certain, one should heed authoritative warning and choose the safest exit—an ethical lesson in discernment and self-preservation.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it implies a specific egress route “by this very house,” suggesting controlled passage or evacuation through a designated structure; ritually, it functions as a narrative cue of impending sacrificial/weapon-like destruction rather than a Vāstu prescription.