Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

निष्प्रभं तु जगत्सर्वं मन्दमेवाभिभाषितम् दह्यमानेषु लोकेषु तैस्त्रिभिर्दानवाग्निभिः //

Transliteration

niṣprabhaṃ tu jagatsarvaṃ mandamevābhibhāṣitam dahyamāneṣu lokeṣu taistribhirdānavāgnibhiḥ //

Translation

But the entire universe became lusterless, and speech itself grew faint and sluggish, as the worlds were being consumed by those three demonic fires.

Word by Word

• niṣprabham: without radiance, lusterless

• tu: but/indeed

• jagat-sarvam: the whole universe

• mandam: slow, faint, dull

• eva: indeed

• abhibhāṣitam: spoken/uttered (speech), expression

• dahyamāneṣu: while being burned, as they were burning

• lokeṣu: in the worlds

• taiḥ: by those

• tribhiḥ: by the three

• dānava-agnibhiḥ: demonic (Dānava/Daitya) fires

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the Pralaya scene (within the Matsya Purana dialogue framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava (Daitya/Demon forces)
• Agni (fire, as destructive agency)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Cosmic Dissolution
• Daitya Fires
• Apocalypse Imagery
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

It depicts pralaya as a phase of cosmic collapse where light and vitality fade, and the worlds are destroyed by three fierce, “demonic” fires—signaling the overwhelming, involutionary power of dissolution.

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

By stressing the inevitability of dissolution, it implicitly supports the Purāṇic ethic of dharma: rulers and householders should act responsibly and perform merit-giving duties (dāna, yajña, protection) since worldly splendor and stability are ultimately impermanent.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the takeaway is ritual-philosophical—pralaya imagery motivates protective rites, fire-related offerings, and dharmic living rather than construction prescriptions.