Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — The Gods Seek Śiva’s Refuge: The Cosmic Chariot Prepared for the Burning of T...

Devanagari script

यदीच्छत मया दग्धुं तत्पुरं सहमानवम् रथमौपयिकं मह्यं सज्जयध्वं किमास्यते //

Transliteration

yadīcchata mayā dagdhuṃ tatpuraṃ sahamānavam rathamaupayikaṃ mahyaṃ sajjayadhvaṃ kimāsyate //

Translation

If you wish me to burn that city together with its people, then prepare for me a suitable chariot—why this hesitation?

Word by Word

• yadi: if

• icchata: you (all) wish/desire

• mayā: by me

• dagdhum: to burn

• tat-puram: that city

• saha-mānavam: together with the people/inhabitants

• ratham: a chariot

• aupayikam: suitable/fit for the purpose

• mahyam: for me

• sajjayadhvam: prepare (all of you)

• kim: why/what

• āsyate: is there delay/hesitation (lit. 'is sat/lingering')

Speaker

• A commanding royal/warrior figure within the narrative (speaker not explicitly identified from this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• pura (city)
• mānava (people/inhabitants)

Tags

• Royal command
• Siege threat
• Punishment
• Narrative episode
• Ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Nothing directly about cosmic Pralaya is stated here; the verse speaks of a threatened destruction of a city as part of a human-level narrative, not universal dissolution.

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

It reflects the idiom of royal command and coercive power (danda). In Matsya Purana-style ethical framing, such force is typically judged by whether it is restrained by dharma—i.e., used for protection and justice rather than cruelty—though this single verse alone does not specify the cause or justification.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural rules (Vastu) are not taught here; the only material-culture detail is the ‘ratha’ (chariot), indicating readiness for a campaign or assault rather than temple-building or ritual procedure.