Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 50

Devanagari script

कुजम्भस्य रथो युक्तः पिशाचवदनैः खरैः रथस्तु महिषस्योष्ट्रैर् गजस्य तु तुरंगमैः //

Transliteration

kujambhasya ratho yuktaḥ piśācavadanaiḥ kharaiḥ rathastu mahiṣasyoṣṭrair gajasya tu turaṃgamaiḥ //

Translation

Kujambhas Wagen war mit Eseln angeschirrt, deren Gesichter denen von piśācas (Ghulwesen) glichen. Mahishas Wagen war mit Kamelen bespannt, der Wagen Gajas hingegen mit Pferden.

Word by Word

• कुजम्भस्य (kujambhasya): of Kujambha

• रथः (rathaḥ): chariot

• युक्तः (yuktaḥ): yoked, harnessed

• पिशाच-वदनैः (piśāca-vadanaiḥ): with piśāca-like faces, ghoulish-faced

• खरैः (kharaiḥ): with donkeys

• रथः तु (rathaḥ tu): and the chariot (indeed)

• महिषस्य (mahiṣasya): of the Buffalo (being/deity)

• उष्ट्रैः (uṣṭraiḥ): with camels

• गजस्य (gajasya): of the Elephant

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• तुरंगमैः (turaṃgamaiḥ): with horses

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s iconographic prescriptions (dialogue-context not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Kujambha
• Piśāca
• Mahiṣa (Buffalo)
• Gaja (Elephant)

Tags

• Iconography
• Vahana
• Chariot
• Pratima Lakshana
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to iconographic description, specifying how certain beings’ chariots should be shown with particular draft animals.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders funding temples or images should follow śāstric specifications so that commissioned icons and reliefs conform to Purāṇic norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides pratima-lakṣaṇa detail used by sculptors and temple planners—what animals to depict as the yoked team for specific chariots—helping maintain canonical consistency in temple art and ritual visualization.