Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Burning of Tripura: Maya’s Triple Fortresses and the Boon that Leads to S...

Devanagari script

निर्मांसाश्च ततो जाताः कृशा धमनिसंतताः तेषां तपःप्रभावेन प्रभावविधुतं यथा //

Transliteration

nirmāṃsāśca tato jātāḥ kṛśā dhamanisaṃtatāḥ teṣāṃ tapaḥprabhāvena prabhāvavidhutaṃ yathā //

Translation

Then there arose beings as though without flesh—gaunt, with veins and sinews standing out; and by the potency of their austerity (tapas), their worldly impress and influence were, as it were, shaken off and swept away.

Word by Word

निर्मांसाःfleshless/without flesh

चand

ततःthen/thereafter

जाताःwere born/arose

कृशाःemaciated/lean

धमनि-संतताःwith veins/sinews extended and prominent

तेषाम्of them

तपः-प्रभावेनby the power/effect of austerity

प्रभाव-विद्हुतम्shaken off/washed away (their worldly influence/impurity/impact)

यथाas/just as (a simile marker).

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Matsya Purana dialogue tradition; likely summarizing the account delivered by Lord Matsya to Manu)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes a creation motif where certain beings arise in an ascetic, purified state; their intense tapas is portrayed as capable of ‘shaking off’ worldly residue—an idea often paired with cosmic cycles of purification even when not explicitly describing Pralaya.

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

It indirectly teaches that self-discipline and restraint are sources of true power: a king or householder should cultivate controlled living (dama, niyama, moderation) so that authority is not merely worldly ‘prabhāva’ but grounded in ethical purity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-building rule appears here; the ritual takeaway is the Purana’s stress on tapas as a purifier—supporting the broader Matsya Purana emphasis that rites gain efficacy when performed with austerity, restraint, and inner cleanliness.