Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

इति परिगणयन्तो दितेः सुता ह्य् अवतस्थुर्लवणार्णवोपरिष्टात् अभिभवत्रिपुरं सदानवेन्द्रं शरवर्षैर्मुसलैश्च वज्रमिश्रैः //

Transliteration

iti parigaṇayanto diteḥ sutā hy avatasthurlavaṇārṇavopariṣṭāt abhibhavatripuraṃ sadānavendraṃ śaravarṣairmusalaiśca vajramiśraiḥ //

Translation

Thus, while reckoning and conferring among themselves, the sons of Diti took their stand above the Salt Ocean, overpowering Tripura and the lord of the Dānavas, assailing them with showers of arrows, with clubs, and with weapons mixed with thunderbolt-like force.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• parigaṇayantaḥ: counting/reckoning, deliberating

• diteḥ: of Diti

• sutāḥ: sons (Daityas)

• hi: indeed

• avatasthuḥ: stood firm/took position

• lavaṇa-arṇava-upariṣṭāt: above/over the Salt Ocean

• abhibhava: overpowering/defeating

• tripuram: Tripura (the triple city/fortress)

• sadānava-indram: the ever-Dānava lord/king of the Dānavas

• śara-varṣaiḥ: with showers of arrows

• musalaiḥ ca: and with clubs/maces

• vajra-miśraiḥ: mingled with vajra, i.e., thunderbolt-like (weapons/force).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting events (Puranic narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Diti
• Daityas (sons of Diti)
• Lavaṇārṇava (Salt Ocean)
• Tripura
• Dānavendra (lord of the Dānavas)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

Tags

• Tripura
• Daitya-Dānava conflict
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic geography
• Weapons

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a martial episode—Daityas positioning themselves above the Salt Ocean and attacking Tripura with arrows and heavy weapons.

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

Indirectly, it reflects Puranic ideals of strategy and collective counsel (“parigaṇayantaḥ”—deliberating) before action, a trait praised in kingship narratives, though no explicit rājadharma or gṛhastha-dharma rule is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architectural significance is only implicit: “Tripura” denotes a fortified triple city/stronghold, serving as a mythic reference point rather than a Vastu or temple-building instruction in this verse.