Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

धुरि युक्ता इवोक्षाणो घटन्त इव पर्वतैः निश्वसन्तः सुराः सर्वे कथमेतदिति ब्रुवन् //

Transliteration

dhuri yuktā ivokṣāṇo ghaṭanta iva parvataiḥ niśvasantaḥ surāḥ sarve kathametaditi bruvan //

Translation

All the gods, breathing hard, cried out, “How can this be?”—as though they were oxen yoked to a heavy load, as though mountains were colliding with mountains.

Word by Word

• धुरि (dhuri): to the yoke/pole, under a burden

• युक्ताः (yuktāḥ): yoked, harnessed

• इव (iva): as if

• उक्षाणः (ukṣāṇaḥ): oxen, bulls

• घटन्तः (ghaṭantaḥ): striking together, colliding

• इव (iva): as if

• पर्वतैः (parvataiḥ): with mountains

• निश्वसन्तः (niśvasantaḥ): breathing, panting, heaving sighs

• सुराः (surāḥ): the gods

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• कथम् (katham): how?

• एतत् (etat): this

• इति (iti): thus

• ब्रुवन् (bruvan): saying, uttering.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller voice, reporting the gods’ reaction)

Entities Mentioned

• Surāḥ (Devas)

Tags

• Portents
• Devas
• Cosmic disturbance
• Puranic narrative
• Astonishment

FAQs

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

It depicts a pralaya-like upheaval through vivid similes—gods panting and bewildered—signaling an extraordinary cosmic disturbance even if the verse itself does not name Pralaya explicitly.

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

Indirectly, it teaches that even the mighty can be shaken by sudden disorder; for kings and householders, the implied ethic is steadiness and discernment during crises rather than panic.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; the imagery (burdened oxen, colliding mountains) functions as a poetic marker of imbalance—useful mainly as narrative context rather than a technical prescription.