Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दन्तैर्गन्धवद्भिः शिक्षितैर्मेघभैरवैः शतहस्तायतैः कृष्णैस् तुरंगैर्हेमभूषणैः //

Transliteration

caturdantairgandhavadbhiḥ śikṣitairmeghabhairavaiḥ śatahastāyataiḥ kṛṣṇais turaṃgairhemabhūṣaṇaiḥ //

Translation

—with well-trained, cloud-thundering in their roar, fragrant in rut, four-tusked elephants; and with black horses of immense stride, adorned with golden ornaments.

Word by Word

• caturdantaiḥ: with four-tusked (elephants)

• gandhavadbhiḥ: fragrant, rut-exuding

• śikṣitaiḥ: trained, disciplined

• megha-bhairavaiḥ: terrifying like thunderclouds / cloud-roaring

• śata-hasta-āyataiḥ: extending to a hundred hastas (i.e., of vast measure/stride)

• kṛṣṇaiḥ: black, dark-colored

• turaṃgaiḥ: with horses

• hema-bhūṣaṇaiḥ: adorned with gold ornaments

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s royal narrative flow

Entities Mentioned

• elephants (gaja)
• horses (turaṅga)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Royal procession
• War-elephants
• Horses
• Puranic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a poetic description of royal power and auspicious martial display through elephants and horses.

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

By highlighting trained elephants and well-adorned horses, the verse reflects ideals of kingship—organization, discipline, and the visible maintenance of royal resources used for protection and governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the emphasis is on auspicious royal pageantry (ornamentation, disciplined animals) often associated with state ceremonies and processions.