Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — Origin of Soma

Devanagari script

स सोममेवाभ्यगमत्पिनाकी गृहीतदीप्तास्त्रविशालवह्निः अथाभवद् भीषणभीमसेनसैन्यद्वयस्यापि महाहवो ऽसौ //

Transliteration

sa somamevābhyagamatpinākī gṛhītadīptāstraviśālavahniḥ athābhavad bhīṣaṇabhīmasenasainyadvayasyāpi mahāhavo 'sau //

Translation

Then Pinākī (Śiva), having taken up blazing weapons of vast, fire-like brilliance, advanced straight toward Soma (the Moon). Thereupon a dreadful, great battle arose—terrifying to behold—for the armies on both sides.

Word by Word

• sa: then/he

• somam eva: Soma alone/indeed Soma

• abhyagamat: approached, advanced toward

• pinākī: the bearer of the bow Pināka (Śiva)

• gṛhīta: having seized/taken up

• dīpta-astra: blazing weapons

• viśāla: vast, mighty

• vahniḥ: fire (fire-like radiance)

• atha: then

• abhavat: arose, occurred

• bhīṣaṇa: dreadful, fearsome

• bhīma-sena: terrible army/hosts (also ‘Bhīma-like troops’ in sense of formidable)

• sainya-dvayasya api: of both armies as well

• mahāhavaḥ: great battle, mighty combat

• asau: that (battle).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing events (narrative voice within Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Pinākī (Śiva)
• Soma (Candra, the Moon)

Tags

• Shaiva episode
• Deva conflict
• Battle narrative
• Mythic warfare
• Puranic cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly describe Pralaya; it depicts a cosmic-scale divine conflict, emphasizing the overwhelming power and radiance of Śiva’s weapons and the terror of a battle that shakes both sides.

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

Indirectly, it models the Purāṇic theme that power must be exercised with discernment: even divine confrontations produce widespread fear and disorder, implying that rulers should avoid needless escalation and protect their people from the chaos of war.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is symbolic—Śiva as Pinākī embodies martial and protective potency often invoked in rites for protection (rakṣā) and removal of fear.