Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Uma’s Austerities and the Slaying of the Deceiver Asura ĀḌi

Devanagari script

परिहृत्य गणेशस्य दानवो ऽसौ सुदुर्जयः अलक्षितो गणेशेन प्रविष्टो ऽथ पुरान्तकम् //

Transliteration

parihṛtya gaṇeśasya dānavo 'sau sudurjayaḥ alakṣito gaṇeśena praviṣṭo 'tha purāntakam //

Translation

Evading Gaṇeśa, that invincible Dānava—unnoticed by Gaṇeśa—then entered (the place/person called) Purāntaka.

Word by Word

• परिहृत्य (parihṛtya): having bypassed/evaded

• गणेशस्य (gaṇeśasya): of Gaṇeśa

• दानवः (dānavaḥ): the Dānava (demon)

• असौ (asau): that (one)

• सुदुर्जयः (sudurjayaḥ): very difficult to conquer/invincible

• अलक्षितः (alakṣitaḥ): unseen, unrecognized

• गणेशेन (gaṇeśena): by Gaṇeśa

• प्रविष्टः (praviṣṭaḥ): entered

• अथ (atha): then

• पुरान्तकम् (purāntakam): Purāntaka (a proper name

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Matsya Purana’s legendary narration

Entities Mentioned

• Gaṇeśa
• Dānava
• Purāntaka

Tags

• Devasura
• Shaiva Lore
• Temple Guardians
• Mythic Infiltration
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it focuses on a Dānava’s stealthy entry after evading Gaṇeśa, highlighting narrative themes of concealment and breached protection rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By portraying an enemy slipping past a guardian unnoticed, it implicitly underscores vigilance (apramāda) in protection—relevant to a king’s duty of fortifying gates and intelligence, and to a householder’s duty of safeguarding the household and maintaining disciplined attention.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Gaṇeśa functions as a threshold/obstacle-guardian motif; ritually this supports Gaṇeśa worship at beginnings and entrances, and architecturally it aligns with placing protective deities at gateways to prevent ‘infiltration’—a common Vastu and temple-entry symbolism.