Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Narasimha’s Victory over Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Catalogue of Apocalyptic Omens

Devanagari script

ततो ऽश्मवर्षं दैत्येन्द्रा व्यमृजन्त नभोगताः नगमात्रैः शिलाखण्डैर् गिरिशृङ्गैर्महाप्रभैः //

Transliteration

tato 'śmavarṣaṃ daityendrā vyamṛjanta nabhogatāḥ nagamātraiḥ śilākhaṇḍair giriśṛṅgairmahāprabhaiḥ //

Translation

Then the lords of the Daityas, moving through the sky, unleashed a rain of stones—hurling mountain-sized boulders and brilliantly massive peaks and crags.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• aśma-varṣam: a shower/rain of stones

• daitya-indrāḥ: the chiefs/lords among the Daityas (demons)

• vyamṛjanta: they discharged/let loose/poured forth

• nabhaḥ-gatāḥ: having gone into the sky, airborne

• naga-mātraiḥ: of the size of mountains

• śilā-khaṇḍaiḥ: with fragments/masses of rock

• giri-śṛṅgaiḥ: with mountain-peaks/summits

• mahā-prabhaiḥ: greatly radiant/splendid, of great brilliance/impact

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) or the Purana’s narrative voice (battle description)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityas
• Daityendras

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Battle imagery
• Daityas
• Cosmic conflict
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it depicts a wartime escalation where Daitya chiefs create an “aśmavarṣa” (stone-rain), a common Purāṇic motif for overwhelming destruction during cosmic battles.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the chaos of adharma-driven aggression; in the Matsya Purana’s ethical frame, rulers are urged to restrain violence, protect subjects, and uphold order rather than emulate destructive, indiscriminate force.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the technical term is “aśmavarṣa” (stone-shower), used as battle imagery rather than a construction or temple-planning instruction.