Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Indra Sends Soma to Battle: Frost-Weapon

Devanagari script

*सोम उवाच यन्मां वदसि युद्धार्थे देवराज वरप्रद एष वर्षामि शिशिरं दैत्यमायापकर्षणम् //

Transliteration

*soma uvāca yanmāṃ vadasi yuddhārthe devarāja varaprada eṣa varṣāmi śiśiraṃ daityamāyāpakarṣaṇam //

Translation

Soma said: “O king of the gods, bestower of boons—since you urge me for the sake of battle, I shall pour forth a wintry, chilling shower that dispels the demons’ magical illusions.”

Word by Word

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the Moon-god

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• यत् (yat): since/that which

• माम् (mām): me

• वदसि (vadasi): you ask/urge/speak to

• युद्धार्थे (yuddhārthe): for the purpose of battle

• देवराज (devarāja): O king of the gods (Indra)

• वरप्रद (varaprada): bestower of boons

• एषः (eṣaḥ): this/now

• वर्षामि (varṣāmi): I will rain/pour down

• शिशिरम् (śiśiram): cold, wintry chill/frost

• दैत्य (daitya): of the demons

• माया (māyā): illusion, magical power

• अपकर्षणम् (apakarṣaṇam): removal, driving away, dispelling

Speaker

• Soma (Chandra), the Moon-god

Entities Mentioned

• Soma (Chandra)
• Devaraja (Indra)
• Daityas (demons)
• Maya (illusory power)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Divine weapons
• Maya (illusion)
• Cosmic forces
• Puranic battle narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it shows a cosmic principle often used in Purāṇic cosmology: divine forces regulate nature (here, cold rain) to counter disorder—specifically, to dispel demonic illusion.

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

By addressing Indra as devarāja, the verse reinforces the model of righteous leadership: a king should seek appropriate means to remove deception and restore order—here symbolized by dispelling “māyā” that obstructs justice and victory.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears in this verse; its practical takeaway is symbolic—ritual and mantra traditions often frame “māyā-apakarṣaṇa” (removal of delusion/obstacles) as a key aim, paralleling the verse’s theme of dispelling harmful illusion.