Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 24

Devanagari script

मय्याश्रितानि सैन्यानि जिते मयि विनाशिता असंभावित एवास्तु जनः स्वच्छन्दचेष्टितः //

Transliteration

mayyāśritāni sainyāni jite mayi vināśitā asaṃbhāvita evāstu janaḥ svacchandaceṣṭitaḥ //

Translation

Die Heere, die sich auf mich stützten, werden vernichtet, wenn ich besiegt werde. Darum soll das Volk unbehelligt bleiben und nach eigenem freien Willen handeln dürfen.

Word by Word

• mayi: in/depending on me

• āśritāni: sheltered by, dependent upon

• sainyāni: armies, forces

• jite: when (I am) defeated/conquered

• mayi: in my case/when it is me

• vināśitāḥ: destroyed, brought to ruin

• asaṃbhāvitaḥ: not suspected, not distrusted, not treated as a threat (i.e., left unmolested)

• eva: indeed, surely

• astu: let it be

• janaḥ: the people, populace

• svacchanda-ceṣṭitaḥ: acting according to one’s own will, moving freely without coercion

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s discourse style)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• jana (the people)
• sainyāni (armies)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Governance
• War-Ethics
• Public-Freedom

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic pralaya; it speaks in political-ethical terms about how reliance on a leader determines the fate of armies, and it advises restraint toward the general populace.

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

It aligns with rajadharma: a ruler should recognize that military power collapses with the leader’s defeat, and therefore should avoid persecuting civilians—allowing people to live without fear and unnecessary interference.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the takeaway is administrative—post-conflict governance should protect public freedom rather than impose coercive control.