Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

रथं मातलिना कॢप्तं देवराजस्य दुर्जयम् यमो महिषमास्थाय सेनाग्रे समवर्तत //

Transliteration

rathaṃ mātalinā kḷptaṃ devarājasya durjayam yamo mahiṣamāsthāya senāgre samavartata //

Translation

Yama took his station at the very front of the host, mounted upon his buffalo; and the unconquerable chariot of the King of the gods, prepared by Mātali, stood ready.

Word by Word

• रथम् (ratham): chariot

• मातलिना (mātalinā): by Mātali (Indra’s charioteer)

• कॢप्तम् (kḷptam): prepared, made ready, arranged

• देवराजस्य (devarājasya): of the king of the gods (Indra)

• दुर्जयम् (durjayam): hard to conquer, unconquerable

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama (lord of death, dharma-judge)

• महिषम् (mahiṣam): buffalo

• आस्थाय (āsthāya): having mounted, having taken support of

• सेनाग्रे (senāgre): at the front of the army

• समवर्तत (samavartata): stood forth, took position, appeared in formation

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battle formation (contextual narration within the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Mātali
• Indra (Devarāja)
• Mahisha (buffalo mount)

Tags

• Devasura war
• Divine chariots
• Yama iconography
• Battle formation
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

Nothing directly: the verse is martial and descriptive, focusing on the gods’ battlefield readiness (Yama at the front; Indra’s chariot prepared), not on pralaya cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of organized leadership and readiness in defense: commanders take their proper stations (senāgre), and resources are prepared by competent specialists (Mātali), modeling disciplined governance rather than household rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; the closest technical element is iconographic—Yama’s traditional buffalo mount and Indra’s chariot prepared by Mātali—useful for identifying deities in Purāṇic art description.