Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

पर्वतैश्च शिलाशृङ्गैः शतशश्चैव पादपैः उपतस्थुः सुरगणाः प्रहर्तुं दानवं बलम् //

Transliteration

parvataiśca śilāśṛṅgaiḥ śataśaścaiva pādapaiḥ upatasthuḥ suragaṇāḥ prahartuṃ dānavaṃ balam //

Translation

Armed with mountains, rocky peaks, and hundreds upon hundreds of trees, the hosts of the gods arrayed themselves, ready to strike down the Dānava forces.

Word by Word

• पर्वतैः (parvataiḥ): with mountains

• च (ca): and

• शिलाशृङ्गैः (śilā-śṛṅgaiḥ): with crags/rocky peaks

• शतशश् (śataśaś): by hundreds, in hundreds

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• पादपैः (pādapaiḥ): with trees

• उपतस्थुः (upatasthuḥ): stood near/assembled/arrayed themselves

• सुरगणाः (suragaṇāḥ): the companies/hosts of the gods

• प्रहर्तुम् (prahartum): to strike, to smite

• दानवम् (dānavam): the Dānava(s), demonic

• बलम् (balam): army, force, strength.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Suragaṇa (hosts of the Devas)
• Dānava (Asura forces)

Tags

• Devasura battle
• Divine warfare
• Puranic narrative
• Weapons
• Cosmic order

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a Devasura battle scene where the gods take up natural objects as weapons to restore cosmic order.

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

Indirectly, it supports the puranic ethic that righteous power is used to restrain destructive forces—paralleling a king’s duty to protect society and curb adharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the verse is primarily martial imagery (mountains, peaks, trees) used as weapons in divine combat.