Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अहो हि कालस्य बलम् अहो कालो हि दुर्जयः यत्रेदृशस्य दुर्गस्य उपरोधो ऽवमागतः //

Transliteration

aho hi kālasya balam aho kālo hi durjayaḥ yatredṛśasya durgasya uparodho 'vamāgataḥ //

Translation

Alas—how great is the power of Time (Kāla)! Indeed Time is hard to overcome, for even such a formidable fortress has come under siege and constraint.

Word by Word

• aho: alas/indeed

• hi: surely

• kālasya: of Time

• balam: strength, power

• kālaḥ: Time

• durjayaḥ: difficult to conquer/overcome

• yatra: where/wherein

• īdṛśasya: of such a kind, so formidable

• durgasya: of the fort/stronghold

• uparodhaḥ: blockade, siege, obstruction

• ava-māgataḥ: has come upon/has befallen, has arrived (as a calamity)

Speaker

• Likely a narrator or a character within the episode reflecting on events (contextually within Matsya Purana’s rajadharma/itihasa narration; precise speaker not explicit from the single verse alone).

Entities Mentioned

• Kāla (Time)
• Durga (Fortress)

Tags

• Kāla
• Rajadharma
• Durganīti
• Impermanence
• Siege

FAQs

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

Though not explicitly about cosmic Pralaya, it presents the same Purāṇic principle: Kāla (Time) is irresistible and can bring even the strongest structures to decline, echoing the broader doctrine of inevitable dissolution.

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

It cautions rulers and householders against overreliance on material security (like forts, wealth, status). Rajadharma here implies preparedness, strategic prudence, and humility—recognizing that Time can overturn even the best defenses.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, it underscores a Vastu-adjacent lesson: even a well-built durga (fort) is not absolute protection. Planning must include resilience, supply lines, and contingency—since siege (uparodha) can neutralize mere structural strength.