Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 15

Devanagari script

तामप्रतर्क्यां सम्प्रेक्ष्य गदां महिषवाहनः गदायाः प्रतिघातार्थं जगद्दलनभैरवम् //

Transliteration

tāmapratarkyāṃ samprekṣya gadāṃ mahiṣavāhanaḥ gadāyāḥ pratighātārthaṃ jagaddalanabhairavam //

Translation

Als Mahiṣavāhana jene unergründliche Keule erblickte, richtete er den Blick auf Jagaddalana-bhairava, um den Keulenschlag abzuwehren.

Word by Word

• tām: that

• apratarkyām: inconceivable, beyond reasoning

• samprekṣya: having looked at, having beheld

• gadām: mace

• mahiṣa-vāhanaḥ: the one whose mount is a buffalo (Mahiṣavāhana)

• gadāyāḥ: of the mace

• pratighāta-artham: for the purpose of repelling/counter-striking

• jagat-dalana-bhairavam: Jagaddalana-bhairava (the ‘Terrifying One who crushes the worlds’, a fierce epithet/name used here).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the action

Entities Mentioned

• Mahiṣavāhana
• Gadā
• Jagaddalana-bhairava

Tags

• Battle narrative
• Asura episode
• Weapons (Gadā)
• Fierce epithets
• Purāṇic storytelling

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it is a combat description highlighting overwhelming power (an ‘inconceivable’ weapon) and an attempted countermeasure.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of vigilance and strategic response in crisis—qualities later mapped onto kṣatriya conduct—though no explicit rājadharma rule is stated here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is explicit in this śloka; it focuses on martial action (gadā-pratighāta) rather than Vāstu, temple rules, or ritual procedure.