Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — The Advent of Narasiṃha and Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Weapon-Assault

Devanagari script

ते दानवाः पाशगृहीतहस्ता महेन्द्रतुल्याशनिवज्रवेगाः समन्ततो ऽभ्युद्यतबाहुकायाः स्थितास्त्रिशीर्षा इव नागपाशाः //

Transliteration

te dānavāḥ pāśagṛhītahastā mahendratulyāśanivajravegāḥ samantato 'bhyudyatabāhukāyāḥ sthitāstriśīrṣā iva nāgapāśāḥ //

Translation

Those Dānavas, with nooses gripped in their hands, swift as Indra’s thunderbolt and lightning, stood all around with their arms raised—like serpent-nooses, as though triple-headed, poised to strike.

Word by Word

• ते (te): those

• दानवाः (dānavāḥ): Dānavas/demonic beings

• पाश-गृहीत-हस्ता (pāśa-gṛhīta-hastā): having hands holding a noose

• महेन्द्र-तुल्य (mahendra-tulya): equal to Mahendra (Indra)

• अशनि-वज्र-वेगाः (aśani-vajra-vegāḥ): with the speed/impetus of lightning and the thunderbolt

• समन्ततः (samantataḥ): on all sides

• अभ्युद्यत-बाहु-कायाः (abhyudyata-bāhu-kāyāḥ): with bodies/frames and arms lifted up, ready to hurl/strike

• स्थिताः (sthitāḥ): stood, stationed

• त्रिशीर्षाः (triśīrṣāḥ): three-headed/triple-headed

• इव (iva): like/as if

• नाग-पाशाः (nāga-pāśāḥ): serpent-nooses (nooses like coiled snakes)

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana dialogue tradition

Entities Mentioned

• Dānavas
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Pāśa (noose)
• Nāga (serpent)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Battle imagery
• Weapons
• Puranic similes
• Indra

FAQs

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

Nothing directly about Pralaya is stated here; the verse is a battlefield description emphasizing the Dānavas’ readiness and weaponry (pāśa/noose) through vivid similes.

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

Indirectly, it underscores vigilance and preparedness in the face of aggression—qualities the Matsya Purana often associates with righteous protection (rakṣaṇa) and the maintenance of order, though this particular verse is not a direct dharma injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the technical focus is martial—pāśa (noose-weapon) and the nāga-pāśa simile used to convey encirclement and imminent capture.