Shloka 50

Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P...

Devanagari script

कुजम्भस्य रथो युक्तः पिशाचवदनैः खरैः रथस्तु महिषस्योष्ट्रैर् गजस्य तु तुरंगमैः //

Transliteration

kujambhasya ratho yuktaḥ piśācavadanaiḥ kharaiḥ rathastu mahiṣasyoṣṭrair gajasya tu turaṃgamaiḥ //

Translation

Kujambha’s chariot is yoked with donkeys whose faces are like those of piśācas (ghoulish beings). The Buffalo’s chariot is yoked with camels, while the Elephant’s chariot is yoked with horses.

Word by Word

कुजम्भस्य (kujambhasya)of Kujambha

रथः (rathaḥ)chariot

युक्तः (yuktaḥ)yoked, harnessed

पिशाच-वदनैः (piśāca-vadanaiḥ)with piśāca-like faces, ghoulish-faced

खरैः (kharaiḥ)with donkeys

रथः तु (rathaḥ tu)and the chariot (indeed)

महिषस्य (mahiṣasya)of the Buffalo (being/deity)

उष्ट्रैः (uṣṭraiḥ)with camels

गजस्य (gajasya)of the Elephant

तु (tu)and/indeed

तुरंगमैः (turaṃgamaiḥ)with horses

Speaker

Suta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s iconographic prescriptions (dialogue-context not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

KujambhaPiśācaMahiṣa (Buffalo)Gaja (Elephant)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to iconographic description, specifying how certain beings’ chariots should be shown with particular draft animals.

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

Indirectly, it supports dharmic patronage: kings and householders funding temples or images should follow śāstric specifications so that commissioned icons and reliefs conform to Purāṇic norms.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides pratima-lakṣaṇa detail used by sculptors and temple planners—what animals to depict as the yoked team for specific chariots—helping maintain canonical consistency in temple art and ritual visualization.