Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — The Devasura War: Tumult

Devanagari script

हस्ती पदातिसंयुक्तो रथिना च क्वचिद्रथी मातंगेनापरो हस्ती तुरंगैर्बहुभिर्गजः //

Transliteration

hastī padātisaṃyukto rathinā ca kvacidrathī mātaṃgenāparo hastī turaṃgairbahubhirgajaḥ //

Translation

An elephant may be accompanied by foot-soldiers, and at times a chariot-warrior (rathin) is paired with a chariot. Elsewhere, one elephant is supported by another great elephant (mātaṅga), and an elephant-force is further reinforced by many horses.

Word by Word

• hastī: elephant (war-elephant)

• padāti-saṃyuktaḥ: joined with/escorted by infantry

• rathinā: with a chariot-warrior

• kvacit: in some cases/at times

• rathī: a chariot (or chariot-fighter, by extension)

• mātaṅgena: with a mighty elephant/with a mātaṅga

• aparaḥ: another/elsewhere

• turaṅgaiḥ: with horses

• bahubhiḥ: with many

• gajaḥ: elephant/elephant-corps

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s discourse on rajadharma and military organization; framed as instruction ultimately attributed to the Matsya tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Elephant corps (gaja)
• Infantry (padāti)
• Chariot-warrior (rathin)
• Horse corps (turaṅga)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Chaturanga-bala
• Military formations
• War elephants
• Ancient warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on practical rajadharma—how a king’s battlefield units are combined and supported (elephants with infantry, chariots, and horses).

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

For a king, it emphasizes competent administration of the chaturanga army—deploying combined arms so each unit (elephants, chariots, cavalry, infantry) is protected and effective; this is part of a ruler’s duty to maintain security and order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical point is military: coordinated pairing and reinforcement of war-elephants, chariots, infantry, and horses in formations.