Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 63

Devanagari script

व्यधमत्तस्य सैन्यानि नानासायकवृष्टिभिः तद्दृष्ट्वा दुष्कृतं कर्म धनाध्यक्षस्य दानवः //

Transliteration

vyadhamattasya sainyāni nānāsāyakavṛṣṭibhiḥ taddṛṣṭvā duṣkṛtaṃ karma dhanādhyakṣasya dānavaḥ //

Translation

Er zerschmetterte die Heere des Gegners mit Schauern mannigfacher Geschosse. Als der Dānava (Dämon) die böse Tat des Schatzmeisters sah, reagierte er dementsprechend.

Word by Word

• vyadhamat: struck down/shattered

• tasya: his/that (opponent’s)

• sainyāni: armies/forces

• nānā-sāyaka-vṛṣṭibhiḥ: with rains/showers of various arrows and missiles

• tat dṛṣṭvā: having seen that

• duṣkṛtam: evil act/misdeed

• karma: deed/action

• dhanādhyakṣasya: of the treasurer/overseer of wealth

• dānavaḥ: the Dānava (demonic being)

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) recounting the episode (likely within the Matsya Purana’s ongoing narration to the sages)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava
• Dhanādhyakṣa (Treasurer/Overseer of Wealth)

Tags

• Battle
• Danava
• Adharma
• Royal administration
• Consequences of misdeeds

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to a conflict narrative, emphasizing karmic consequence and the escalation of violence through missile warfare.

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

By highlighting the treasurer’s “duṣkṛta karma” (misdeed), it implies that corruption or wrongdoing in royal administration—especially in handling wealth—provokes calamity and retaliation, underscoring the king’s duty to appoint and supervise righteous officials.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its focus is martial action and the moral weight of an official’s wrongdoing.