Shloka 29

Matsya Purana — Description of the Daitya–Dānava War Preparations and Maya’s Divine Chariots

Devanagari script

पाशैः प्रासैश्च परिघैस् तोमराङ्कुशपट्टिशैः चिक्रीडुस्ते शतघ्नीभिः शतधारैश्च मुद्गरैः //

Transliteration

pāśaiḥ prāsaiśca parighais tomarāṅkuśapaṭṭiśaiḥ cikrīḍuste śataghnībhiḥ śatadhāraiśca mudgaraiḥ //

Translation

They sported in battle with nooses and spears, with iron clubs and lances, with goads and battle-axes; and they played on with śataghnīs (missile-weapons) and with many-bladed weapons, and with heavy maces.

Word by Word

पाशैः (pāśaiḥ)with nooses/ropes used to bind

प्रासैः (prāsaiḥ)with spears

च (ca)and

परिघैः (parighaiḥ)with iron clubs/bars

तोमर (tomara)with lances/javelins

अङ्कुश (aṅkuśa)with goads/hooks

पट्टिशैः (paṭṭiśaiḥ)with battle-axes/hatchets

चिक्रीडुः (cikrīḍuḥ)they played/sported (engaged as if in sport)

ते (te)they (those warriors)

शतघ्नीभिः (śataghnībhiḥ)with śataghnīs, deadly missile-engines or spiked weapons

शतधारैः (śatadhāraiḥ)with hundred-edged/many-bladed weapons

च (ca)and

मुद्गरैः (mudgaraiḥ)with maces/war-hammers.

Speaker

Suta-style narrator (Puranic narrator describing the battle episode; exact interlocutor not explicit from the single verse)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a martial description highlighting the intensity and variety of weapons used in a battle episode.

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

It reflects the Kshatriya sphere of duty—training, readiness, and valor in warfare—often framed in the Purana as part of royal responsibility to protect the realm and uphold order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is mentioned; the technical content here is primarily martial terminology (weapons and combat play).