Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Tripura’s Prosperity

Devanagari script

नाधर्मस्त्रिपुरस्थानां बाधते वीर्यवानपि अर्चयन्तो दितेः पुत्रास् त्रिपुरायतने हरम् //

Transliteration

nādharmastripurasthānāṃ bādhate vīryavānapi arcayanto diteḥ putrās tripurāyatane haram //

Translation

Even a powerful man cannot overcome the adharma of those dwelling in Tripura; for the sons of Diti, while remaining in Tripura, were worshipping Hara (Śiva) in the sanctuary of Tripura.

Word by Word

• na: not

• adharmaḥ: unrighteousness, impiety

• tripura-sthānām: of those situated in Tripura / dwelling in Tripura

• bādhate: overcomes, subdues, checks

• vīryavān: mighty, possessed of prowess

• api: even

• arcayantaḥ: worshipping, honoring

• diteḥ: of Diti

• putrāḥ: sons (Daityas)

• tripura-āyatane: in the abode/temple-sanctuary of Tripura

• haram: Hara, Śiva

Speaker

• Suta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the Tripura context (narrative voice; not direct dialogue of Matsya-Manu in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Tripura
• Diti
• Diti's sons (Daityas)
• Hara (Shiva)

Tags

• Tripura
• Daityas
• Shaiva worship
• Adharma
• Temple sanctuary

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it highlights a moral-ritual tension—adharma persists among the Tripura-dwellers even while they perform worship of Śiva.

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

It implies that mere ritual devotion is insufficient if adharma remains; a king or householder must align conduct (dharma) with worship, otherwise power (vīrya) cannot truly restrain social or personal unrighteousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The term āyatana points to a defined sacred sanctuary/temple space in Tripura, indicating formalized ritual worship (arcana) of Hara within a consecrated abode—useful for reading Matsya Purana temple-space vocabulary.