Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

सगर्भं त्रिपुरं येन दग्धवान्स त्रिलोचनः स इषुर्विष्णुसोमाग्नित्रिदैवतमयो ऽभवत् //

Transliteration

sagarbhaṃ tripuraṃ yena dagdhavānsa trilocanaḥ sa iṣurviṣṇusomāgnitridaivatamayo 'bhavat //

Translation

That three-eyed Lord (Śiva), by whom the three cities of Tripura—together with all they contained—were burned, bore a missile constituted of the three divinities: Viṣṇu, Soma, and Agni.

Word by Word

• sagarbham: with its contents/with what was within

• tripuram: Tripura, the three cities

• yena: by whom

• dagdhavān: burned/consumed by fire

• saḥ: that (he)

• trilocanaḥ: the three-eyed one (Śiva)

• saḥ: that

• iṣuḥ: arrow/missile

• viṣṇu: Viṣṇu

• soma: Soma (Moon/nectar deity)

• agni: Agni (Fire)

• tridaivata-mayaḥ: composed of three deities/threefold-divine in essence

• abhavat: became/was

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the Tripura-dahana account (contextual narration within Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Śiva (Trilocana)
• Tripura
• Viṣṇu
• Soma
• Agni

Tags

• Tripura-dahana
• Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony
• Divine weapons
• Puranic cosmology
• Theology

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic pralaya directly; it presents a targeted destruction—Tripura’s burning—as a mythic model of divine dissolution of adharma through a consecrated, deity-empowered weapon.

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

Indirectly, it frames righteous force as legitimate only when aligned with divine order: just as Śiva’s missile is sanctified by higher powers, a king’s punishment (daṇḍa) should be guided by dharma and not personal anger.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, Tripura represents fortified ‘cities’ (pura) that can symbolize constructed power; ritually, the verse emphasizes mantra-śakti and deity-infused implements—an arrow made ‘tridaivata’—echoing the Purāṇic idea that tools become effective through consecration and divine invocation.