Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

प्रदह्यमानेन पुरेण तेन जगत् सपातालदिवं प्रतप्तम् दुःखं महत्प्राप्य जलावमग्नं यस्मिन्महान्सौधवरो मयस्य //

Transliteration

pradahyamānena pureṇa tena jagat sapātāladivaṃ prataptam duḥkhaṃ mahatprāpya jalāvamagnaṃ yasminmahānsaudhavaro mayasya //

Translation

As that city burned, the whole world—down to Pātāla and up to the heavens—was scorched. Overwhelmed by immense distress, it became submerged in water; there too the great palatial enclosure of Maya, the architect, lay engulfed.

Word by Word

• प्रदह्यमानेन: while being burnt/consumed by fire

• पुरेण: by the city

• तेन: by that/thereby

• जगत्: the world

• सपातालदिवम्: together with Pātāla (netherworld) and Dyauḥ/Divam (heaven)

• प्रतप्तम्: heated/scorched

• दुःखम्: suffering/distress

• महत्: great/immense

• प्राप्य: having attained/undergoing

• जल-अवमग्नम्: submerged/immersed in water

• यस्मिन्: wherein/where

• महान्: great

• सौधवरः: palatial compound/mansion-enclosure (saudha = palace)

• मयस्य: of Maya (the famed asura-architect).

Speaker

• Suta (narrative voice), within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework

Entities Mentioned

• Patala
• Diva (Heaven)
• Maya

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Fire
• Flood Imagery
• Mythic Architecture
• Maya the Architect

FAQs

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

It depicts dissolution through twin forces—conflagration and inundation—suggesting a totalizing catastrophe affecting realms from Pātāla to heaven, a classic Purāṇic pralaya-style image.

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

By stressing the vulnerability of even great cities and palaces, it implies the ethical Purāṇic lesson of impermanence: rulers and householders should govern and live with dharma, restraint, and preparedness rather than pride in material security.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The mention of Maya’s “saudha” (palatial compound) highlights elite architectural works within Purāṇic memory, while also underscoring that even master-built structures are not immune to fire and flood—an implicit caution relevant to Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra reflections on site, resilience, and transience.