Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 1

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच अथ ग्रसनमालोक्य यमः क्रोधविमूर्छितः ववर्ष शरवर्षेण विशेषेणाग्निवर्चसा //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca atha grasanamālokya yamaḥ krodhavimūrchitaḥ vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa viśeṣeṇāgnivarcasā //

Translation

Sūta sprach: Da er den Akt des Verschlingens sah, wurde Yama vom Zorn überwältigt, wie betäubt, und ließ einen Sturm von Pfeilen niedergehen, von besonderem Glanz wie Feuer.

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• अथ: then

• ग्रसनम्: the devouring/swallowing (act)

• आलोक्य: having seen

• यमः: Yama (Lord of Death/Dharma)

• क्रोध-विमूर्छितः: overcome/stupefied by anger

• ववर्ष: he showered/rained down

• शर-वर्षेण: with a rain of arrows

• विशेषेण: especially/with particular intensity

• अग्नि-वर्चसा: with fiery radiance/splendour like fire

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Ugraśravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama

Tags

• Yama
• Battle
• Dharma
• Wrath
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it depicts a dramatic conflict moment where Yama responds violently to a “devouring” act, using fiery arrow-showers.

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

Indirectly, it frames Yama as an enforcer reacting to adharma or threat: the ethical subtext is that disorder (symbolized by destructive ‘devouring’) provokes corrective punishment—an idea echoed in royal duty to restrain wrongdoing.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is narrative and martial, emphasizing fiery brilliance and the ‘rain of arrows’ motif.