Shloka 25

Matsya Purana — Tripura Takes Refuge in the Ocean; Maya’s Hidden Nectar-Reservoir and the God...

Devanagari script

पितामह दृढं भीता भगवन्दानवा हि नः विपुलं सागरं ते तु दानवाः समुपाश्रिताः //

Transliteration

pitāmaha dṛḍhaṃ bhītā bhagavandānavā hi naḥ vipulaṃ sāgaraṃ te tu dānavāḥ samupāśritāḥ //

Translation

O Pitāmaha (Brahmā), O Blessed Lord—truly we Dānavas are seized with great fear. Those Dānavas have taken refuge in the vast ocean.

Word by Word

• pitāmaha: O Grandfather (Brahmā)

• dṛḍham: greatly, firmly

• bhītāḥ: frightened

• bhagavan: O Lord, O Blessed One

• dānavāḥ: the Danavas (a class of asuras)

• hi: indeed

• naḥ: we/our

• vipulam: vast, expansive

• sāgaram: ocean

• te: those

• tu: but/indeed

• dānavāḥ: the Danavas

• samupāśritāḥ: have resorted to, have taken refuge in

Speaker

• Danavas (petitioners) addressing Brahma (Pitamaha)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Danavas
• Sagara (Ocean)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Asuras
• Ocean
• Refuge
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It depicts fear and displacement during a pralaya-era crisis, with the Danavas retreating to the vast ocean as a place of refuge—an image consistent with dissolution motifs where boundaries and abodes are overwhelmed.

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

Indirectly, it underscores a key Matsya Purana ethic: in times of danger, one seeks proper refuge and protection under rightful authority; for kings and householders this implies providing shelter, maintaining order, and approaching legitimate protectors rather than resorting to chaos.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual rule is stated; the verse mainly uses the ocean as a narrative locus of refuge, which later chapters may contrast with ordered, protected spaces (settlements/temples) established under dharma.