Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 43

Devanagari script

यमं भुजाभ्यामादाय योधयामास दानवः यमो ऽपि शस्त्राण्युत्सृज्य बाहुयुद्धेष्ववर्तत //

Transliteration

yamaṃ bhujābhyāmādāya yodhayāmāsa dānavaḥ yamo 'pi śastrāṇyutsṛjya bāhuyuddheṣvavartata //

Translation

Den Yama mit beiden Armen packend, rang und kämpfte der Dānava mit ihm; auch Yama, die Waffen beiseite werfend, trat in den Nahkampf ein.

Word by Word

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

• भुजाभ्याम् (bhujābhyām): with (his) two arms

• आदाय (ādāya): having seized/taken hold of

• योधयामास (yodhayāmāsa): fought/caused battle (with)

• दानवः (dānavaḥ): the Dānava (demon)

• यमः अपि (yamaḥ api): Yama also

• शस्त्राणि (śastrāṇi): weapons

• उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya): having cast aside/abandoned

• बाहुयुद्धेषु (bāhuyuddheṣu): in arm-combats, hand-to-hand fights

• अवर्तत (avartata): engaged, turned to, entered into.

Speaker

• Suta-like narrator (anonymous Purāṇic narrator describing the combat scene)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Danava

Tags

• Battle
• Devas vs Danavas
• Yama
• Martial Dharma
• Purana Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on a battlefield episode where Yama and a Dānava abandon weapons and grapple directly.

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

Indirectly, it reflects kṣātra-dharma ideals of valor and direct engagement in combat—showing that even a divine regulator like Yama can enter close combat when required.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is purely martial, describing a transition from weaponry to hand-to-hand fighting.