Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

शराग्निपातात् समभिद्रुतानां तत्राङ्गनानाम् अतिकोमलानाम् बभूव काञ्चीगुणनूपुराणाम् आक्रन्दितानां च रवो ऽतिमिश्रः //

Transliteration

śarāgnipātāt samabhidrutānāṃ tatrāṅganānām atikomalānām babhūva kāñcīguṇanūpurāṇām ākranditānāṃ ca ravo 'timiśraḥ //

Translation

As showers of flaming arrows fell, the very tender women there, rushing in panic, raised a confused, mingled din—of waist-belts’ cords and anklets sounding together, and of their cries of distress.

Word by Word

• śara: arrow

• agni: fire

• pātāt: from the falling/showering

• samabhidrutānām: of those who ran together in alarm

• tatra: there

• aṅganānām: of the women

• ati-komalānām: exceedingly delicate/tender

• babhūva: there arose/there was

• kāñcī: waist-belt/girdle

• guṇa: cord/strand

• nūpura: anklet

• kāñcīguṇanūpurāṇām: of waist-belt cords and anklets (their sounds)

• ākranditānām: of those crying out/laments

• ca: and

• ravaḥ: sound/clamor

• ati-miśraḥ: greatly mixed/confused.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing events (third-person narrative within the Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Women (aṅganāḥ)
• Flaming arrows (śarāgnipāta)
• Waist-belt (kāñcī)
• Anklets (nūpura)

Tags

• Battle
• Lamentation
• Purāṇic narrative
• Sound imagery
• Royal episode

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya; it is a battlefield vignette focusing on human panic and suffering amid a rain of fiery arrows.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the civilian cost of warfare—implying the king’s dharma to protect subjects and restrain violence, and the householder’s duty to safeguard dependents in times of danger.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is taught here; the verse uses ornaments (girdle cords and anklets) to portray the mixed sounds of flight and lament.