Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शतैः पञ्चभिरत्युग्रैः शराणां यममर्दयत् स विचिन्त्य यमो बाणान् ग्रसनस्यातिपौरुषम् //

Transliteration

śataiḥ pañcabhiratyugraiḥ śarāṇāṃ yamamardayat sa vicintya yamo bāṇān grasanasyātipauruṣam //

Translation

Mit fünfhundert überaus grimmigen Pfeilen streckte er Yama nieder. Da sann Yama über jene Geschosse nach und erwog die außerordentliche Kraft Grāsanas.

Word by Word

• शतैः (śataiḥ): by hundreds

• पञ्चभिः (pañcabhiḥ): by five (i.e., five hundred)

• अति-उग्रैः (atyugraiḥ): extremely fierce

• शराणाम् (śarāṇām): of arrows

• यमम् (yamam): Yama (the Lord of Death)

• अर्दयत्/मर्दयत् (ardayat/mardayat): crushed, struck down, afflicted

• स (sa): he

• विचिन्त्य (vicintya): having reflected/considered

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama

• बाणान् (bāṇān): arrows/shafts

• ग्रसनस्य (grasanasyā): of Grāsana

• अति-पौरुषम् (atipauruṣam): extraordinary manliness/heroic power

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the event (likely within a narrated episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Grāsana

Tags

• Battle
• Valor
• Puranic narrative
• Yama
• Heroic prowess

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on a martial episode, highlighting how even Yama is momentarily overpowered by extraordinary human (or heroic) force.

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

Indirectly, it underscores the Purāṇic ideal of vīrya (heroic strength) and resolve—qualities praised in rulers and protectors—while also implying that power invites scrutiny and discernment (Yama ‘reflects’ on the attacker’s prowess).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; it is purely narrative and martial in tone.