Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

गृहप्रतापैः क्वथितं समन्तात् तदार्णवे तोयमुदीर्णवेगम् वित्रासयामास तिमीन्सनक्रांस् तिमिङ्गिलांस्तत्क्वथितांस्तथान्यान् //

Transliteration

gṛhapratāpaiḥ kvathitaṃ samantāt tadārṇave toyamudīrṇavegam vitrāsayāmāsa timīnsanakrāṃs timiṅgilāṃstatkvathitāṃstathānyān //

Translation

All around, the ocean-water—heated (as if boiling) by the fierce radiance of the submerged houses—rose with a surging force, terrifying the fish along with the crocodiles, the timiṅgilas (great sea-monsters), and other creatures that were likewise scalded by that heat.

Word by Word

• गृह (gṛha): houses, dwellings

• प्रतापैः (pratāpaiḥ): by heat, fiery radiance, burning intensity

• क्वथितम् (kvathitam): boiled, seethed, scalded

• समन्तात् (samantāt): on all sides, everywhere

• तद् (tad): that

• अर्णवे (ārṇave): in the ocean

• तोयम् (toyam): water

• उदिर्ण-वेगम् (udīrṇa-vegam): having risen/been aroused in speed, surging violently

• वित्रासयामास (vitrāsayāmāsa): caused to tremble, frightened greatly

• तिमीन् (timīn): fishes

• स-नक्रान् (sa-nakrān): together with crocodiles/alligators

• तिमिङ्गिलान् (timiṅgilān): timiṅgila, gigantic fish/sea-monsters

• तत्-क्वथितान् (tat-kvathitān): those scalded/boiled by that (heat)

• तथा-अन्यान् (tathā anyān): and other (beings) as well.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice recounting the Pralaya episode; dialogue context ultimately tied to Lord Matsya and Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Ocean (ārṇava)
• Timi (fish)
• Nakra (crocodile)
• Timiṅgila (sea-monster)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Great Flood
• Cosmic dissolution imagery
• Ocean upheaval
• Matsya narrative context

FAQs

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

It portrays Pralaya as a violent, world-submerging upheaval where even the ocean becomes agitated and ‘boils,’ driving fear through all aquatic life—an image of total ecological and cosmic disturbance.

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

Indirectly, it underscores impermanence: even ‘houses’ and settled human order are overwhelmed in dissolution, reinforcing the Matsya Purana’s broader ethic that rulers and householders should anchor life in dharma, charity, and preparedness rather than mere material security.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu rule is stated; the verse uses ‘houses’ as a vivid marker of human habitation being submerged, serving as a narrative contrast to later sections where stable, dharmic construction (temples, towns) is prescribed.