Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Aṅgāra

Devanagari script

पुरा दक्षविनाशाय कुपितस्य तु शूलिनः अथ तद्भीमवक्त्रस्य स्वेदबिन्दुर्ललाटजः //

Transliteration

purā dakṣavināśāya kupitasya tu śūlinaḥ atha tadbhīmavaktrasya svedabindurlalāṭajaḥ //

Translation

Long ago, when the trident-bearing Lord (Śiva) was enraged for the destruction of Dakṣa, then from the forehead of that One of dreadful countenance there arose a bead of sweat.

Word by Word

• purā: formerly/long ago

• dakṣa-vināśāya: for the destruction of Dakṣa

• kupitasya: of the enraged one

• tu: indeed

• śūlinaḥ: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)

• atha: then

• tad-: of that

• bhīma-vaktrasya: of the terrible-faced one

• sveda-binduḥ: a drop/bead of sweat

• lalāṭa-jaḥ: born from the forehead

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Matsya Purana’s narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Dakṣa
• Śiva (Śūlin)
• Rudra

Tags

• Daksha Yajna
• Rudra Wrath
• Shaiva Narrative
• Puranic Myth
• Cosmic Retribution

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it depicts a mythic moment of divine wrath where a physical emanation (a sweat-drop from Rudra’s forehead) becomes the seed for subsequent manifestation in the Dakṣa-sacrifice narrative.

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

By implication it warns that arrogance and sacrificial pride (as associated with Dakṣa in this episode) invite downfall; rulers and householders are urged to perform rites with humility and due honor to all deities and sacred persons.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse is ritual-mythic rather than architectural; its ritual takeaway is that yajña and worship must be conducted with correct reverence—otherwise the rite becomes spiritually defective and leads to destructive consequences.