Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

लोकत्रयं तापयन्तस् ते तेपुर्दानवास्तपः हेमन्ते जलशय्यासु ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपे तथा //

Transliteration

lokatrayaṃ tāpayantas te tepurdānavāstapaḥ hemante jalaśayyāsu grīṣme pañcatape tathā //

Translation

Scorching the three worlds, those Dānava demons performed austerities—lying upon beds of water in the winter, and likewise enduring the five-fire penance (pañcatapa) in the summer.

Word by Word

• लोकत्रयम् (lokatrayam): the three worlds

• तापयन्तः (tāpayantaḥ): scorching, afflicting with heat

• ते (te): they, those

• तेपुः (tepuḥ): performed (austerity), practiced

• दानवाः (dānavāḥ): the Dānavas (a class of Asuras)

• तपः (tapaḥ): austerity, penance

• हेमन्ते (hemante): in winter

• जलशय्यासु (jalaśayyāsu): on water-beds / lying in water

• ग्रीष्मे (grīṣme): in summer

• पञ्चतपे (pañcatape): the five-fire austerity (four fires around with the sun as the fifth)

• तथा (tathā): likewise, in that manner.

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrator) reporting the episode within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Lokatraya (three worlds)
• Pañcatapa (five-fire austerity)

Tags

• Tapas
• Asuras
• Cosmic Disturbance
• Penance
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights how extreme tapas by powerful beings can disturb the cosmic order across the three worlds, a common precursor motif to divine intervention in Purāṇic narratives.

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

By contrast, it implies that tapas should be disciplined and dharmic; kings and householders are urged in Purāṇic ethics to pursue regulated vows and yajña without destabilizing society or seeking power through harmful extremes.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual element is pañcatapa—an ascetic rite involving four fires and the sun as the fifth—showing the Matsya Purana’s awareness of technical austerity-practices (tapas-vidhi), though it is not a Vāstu or temple-building instruction.