Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 143

Devanagari script

कलां पूरयितुं यत्नात् षोडशीमतिविक्रमाः किं प्रयाताश्च तिष्ठध्वं समरे ऽमरनिर्जिताः //

Transliteration

kalāṃ pūrayituṃ yatnāt ṣoḍaśīmativikramāḥ kiṃ prayātāśca tiṣṭhadhvaṃ samare 'maranirjitāḥ //

Translation

Müht euch eifrig, die vorgeschriebene kalā (Maß/Phase) bis zur sechzehnten zu vollenden; warum habt ihr schon begonnen fortzugehen? Steht fest im Kampf—o ihr von überragender Kraft, Sieger selbst über die Götter.

Word by Word

• कलाम् (kalām): a kalā, measure/phase, prescribed unit of time or completion

• पूरयितुम् (pūrayitum): to fill up, complete

• यत्नात् (yatnāt): with effort, diligently

• षोडशीम् (ṣoḍaśīm): the sixteenth (full measure/phase)

• अति-विक्रमाः (ati-vikramāḥ): of extraordinary valor/stride

• किम् (kim): why?

• प्रयाताः (prayātāḥ): gone forth, set out, begun to depart

• च (ca): and

• तिष्ठध्वम् (tiṣṭhadhvam): stand (all of you), remain firm

• समरे (samare): in battle, in conflict

• अमर-निर्जिताः (amara-nirjitāḥ): having conquered the immortals (gods), victors over the devas

Speaker

• Narratorial/Instructional voice within the ritual-iconography discourse (addressing valiant agents/attendants in a martial metaphor)

Entities Mentioned

• kalā
• ṣoḍaśī
• amara (devas)

Tags

• Matsya Purana
• Vastuvidya
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual Timing
• Kalā

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it stresses disciplined completion of a prescribed kalā up to the sixteenth measure, using a battle-like metaphor for steadfast effort.

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

It models dharmic discipline: do not abandon a duty mid-course; complete the prescribed stages (kalā) with sustained effort—an ethic applicable to royal governance and household rites alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key technical point is the insistence on completing the required kalā up to the ṣoḍaśī (sixteenth/full measure), implying that consecration/ritual phases must be finished in proper count and order before concluding.