Matsya Purana — The Devasura War: Tumult, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

भग्नेषादण्डचक्राक्षा रथाश्च शकलीकृताः पेतुः शकलतां यातास् तुरंगाश्च सहस्रशः //

Transliteration

bhagneṣādaṇḍacakrākṣā rathāśca śakalīkṛtāḥ petuḥ śakalatāṃ yātās turaṃgāśca sahasraśaḥ //

Translation

With their poles and yokes broken, and their wheels and axles shattered, the chariots were smashed to pieces; and thousands of horses fell, reduced to mangled fragments.

Word by Word

• bhagna: broken

• īṣā: (chariot-)pole/drawbar

• daṇḍa: pole/shaft (supporting piece)

• cakra: wheel

• akṣa: axle

• rathāḥ: chariots

• ca: and

• śakalīkṛtāḥ: made into fragments, splintered

• petuḥ: fell

• śakalatām: the state of being in pieces, fragmentation

• yātāḥ: having gone/come to

• turaṅgāḥ: horses

• sahasraśaḥ: by the thousands, in great numbers

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battlefield events

Entities Mentioned

• Ratha (chariots)
• Turaṅga (horses)

Tags

• War
• Battlefield
• Chariots
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Epic narration

FAQs

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

This verse does not address cosmic Pralaya; it depicts a localized “dissolution” on the battlefield—vehicles and cavalry being destroyed in mass conflict.

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

It reflects the Kshatriya sphere of duty: warfare and protection of the realm, showing the harsh material realities of battle that accompany royal responsibility and political conflict.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is taught here; the technical significance is martial—precise chariot-part vocabulary (īṣā, daṇḍa, cakra, akṣa) useful for understanding ancient military technology described in the Purana.