Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — The Array of the Gods: Description of the Vaiṣṇava Host and the Lokapālas

Devanagari script

यमस्तु दण्डमुद्यम्य कालयुक्तश्च मुद्गरम् तस्थौ सुरगणानीके दैत्यान्नादेन भीषयन् //

Transliteration

yamastu daṇḍamudyamya kālayuktaśca mudgaram tasthau suragaṇānīke daityānnādena bhīṣayan //

Translation

But Yama, raising aloft his staff, and Kāla too with his mace, stood within the host of the gods, terrifying the Dāityas with a thunderous roar.

Word by Word

• yamaḥ: Yama (Lord of Death)

• tu: indeed/but

• daṇḍam: the staff/rod of punishment

• udyamya: raising/brandishing

• kāla-yuktaḥ: accompanied by Kāla / joined with Time/Death

• ca: and

• mudgaram: mace/club

• tasthau: stood/took position

• sura-gaṇa-anīke: in the army/formation of the gods

• daityān: the Dāityas (a class of Asuras)

• nādena: with a roar/battle-cry

• bhīṣayan: frightening/terrifying.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice describing the battle episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Kāla
• Suras (Devas)
• Dāityas

Tags

• Devāsura-yuddha
• Yama
• Kāla
• Battle-array
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic dissolution directly; instead it uses Kāla (“Time/Death”) alongside Yama to evoke the inevitability of death and the overpowering force of time within a battlefield setting.

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

Yama’s raised daṇḍa (rod of punishment) reflects the dharmic principle of daṇḍanīti—lawful restraint and punishment—implying that authority must protect order by disciplined, principled enforcement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the verse is primarily iconographic and symbolic, highlighting Yama’s staff and Kāla’s mace as identifying emblems in Purāṇic description.