Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 111

Devanagari script

न शेकुश्चलितं तत्र पदादपि पदं तदा ततो नानास्त्रवर्षेण दानवानां महाचमूम् //

Transliteration

na śekuścalitaṃ tatra padādapi padaṃ tadā tato nānāstravarṣeṇa dānavānāṃ mahācamūm //

Translation

Dort vermochten sie damals nicht einmal einen einzigen Schritt zu tun. Dann wurde durch einen Regen mannigfacher Waffen das große Heer der Dānavas niedergeschlagen und in Unordnung gestürzt.

Word by Word

• na: not

• śekuḥ: were able

• calitam: moved/stirred

• tatra: there

• padāt api: even from a step/footing

• padam: a step

• tadā: then/at that time

• tataḥ: thereafter/then

• nānā: various, many kinds

• astra-varṣeṇa: by a shower/rain of missiles (astras)

• dānavānām: of the Dānavas (demonic clan)

• mahā-camūm: the great army/host

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle episode (within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava

Tags

• PuranicBattle
• AstraVarsha
• DaityasAndDanavas
• DivineWarfare
• EpicNarrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a battlefield moment where the Dānavas are immobilized and overwhelmed by an astra-varṣa (shower of missiles).

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣātra theme of protecting order: decisive force and superior strategy/arms can break an oppressive host—an image often used in Purāṇas to underline the king’s role in restraining adharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical term is martial—astra-varṣa—used to convey overwhelming weaponry in a war scene.