Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 32

Devanagari script

मेने यमसहस्राणि सृष्टानि यममायया निग्राह्य ग्रसनः सेनां विसृजन्नस्त्रवृष्टयः //

Transliteration

mene yamasahasrāṇi sṛṣṭāni yamamāyayā nigrāhya grasanaḥ senāṃ visṛjannastravṛṣṭayaḥ //

Translation

Er erkannte Tausende von Yamas, hervorgebracht durch Yamas trügerische Macht (Māyā); und Grasana, der Verschlinger, hielt sie nieder und überflutete das Heer, indem er einen Regen von Waffen entließ und fortwährend Astras aussandte.

Word by Word

• मेने: perceived/considered

• यमसहस्राणि: thousands of (forms of) Yama

• सृष्टानि: created/emitted

• यममायया: by Yama’s māyā/illusion

• निग्राह्य: having checked/restrained/subdued

• ग्रसनः: the devourer/one who swallows up

• सेनाम्: the army

• विसृजन्: releasing/letting loose

• अस्त्रवृष्टयः: showers/rains of missiles (astra-weapons)

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) reporting the episode (speaker not explicit in the single verse; most likely narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama

Tags

• Divine warfare
• Maya
• Astra
• Protection of dharma
• Puranic battle narrative

FAQs

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

Rather than describing cosmic pralaya, it depicts battlefield “manifestations” (illusory creations) produced by Yama’s māyā and their forceful suppression through overwhelming divine weaponry.

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

It models the dhārmic principle of restraining destructive forces (nigraha) and protecting order—an ideal echoed for kings as disciplined use of power against threats, not uncontrolled violence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears in this verse; its technical focus is martial (astra-vṛṣṭi) and the theme of māyā in combat imagery.