Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — Manifestation of Kauśikī

Devanagari script

पञ्चालो नाम यक्षो ऽयं यक्षलक्षपदानुगः दत्तस्ते किंकरो देवि मया मायाशतैर्युतः //

Transliteration

pañcālo nāma yakṣo 'yaṃ yakṣalakṣapadānugaḥ dattaste kiṃkaro devi mayā māyāśatairyutaḥ //

Translation

“O Goddess, this Yakṣa is named Pañcāla—one who commands the ranks of a hundred-thousand Yakṣas. I have bestowed him upon you as an attendant-servant, endowed by me with hundreds of powers of māyā.”

Word by Word

• पञ्चालः (pañcālaḥ): Pañcāla (name)

• नाम (nāma): by name

• यक्षः (yakṣaḥ): Yakṣa nature-spirit/guardian being

• अयम् (ayam): this

• यक्ष-लक्ष-पद-अनुगः (yakṣa-lakṣa-pada-anugaḥ): followed by/commanding the station (pada) of a lakh (100,000) Yakṣas

• दत्तः (dattaḥ): given/bestowed

• ते (te): to you

• किंकरः (kiṃkaraḥ): servant/attendant

• देवि (devi): O Goddess

• मया (mayā): by me

• माया-शतैः (māyā-śataiḥ): with hundreds of māyās (magical arts/illusions)

• युतः (yutaḥ): endowed/possessed of

Speaker

• Unspecified male divine/royal figure addressing a Goddess (Devi) within the Adhyaya’s narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Yaksha
• Pañcāla (Yaksha)
• Devi

Tags

• Yakshas
• Mythology
• Divine attendants
• Māyā
• Protective spirits

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it focuses on mythic hierarchy—granting a powerful Yakṣa attendant endowed with māyā (magical powers).

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic idea of delegated protection and service: powerful beings are appointed as attendants/guardians, paralleling how rulers appoint capable officers to uphold order and safeguard dependents.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears here; the key takeaway is the ritual-mythic motif of assigning a yakṣa as a protective attendant, a theme sometimes echoed in guardian (dvārapāla/attendant) concepts around sacred spaces.