Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Slaying of Jambha and the Rise of Tāraka: Divine Battle Formations

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच तमालोक्य पलायन्तं विभ्रष्टध्वजकार्मुकम् हरिं देवः सहस्राक्षो मेने भग्नं दुराहवे //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca tamālokya palāyantaṃ vibhraṣṭadhvajakārmukam hariṃ devaḥ sahasrākṣo mene bhagnaṃ durāhave //

Translation

Sūta said: Seeing Hari fleeing—his banner and bow lost—Indra, the thousand-eyed lord of the gods, thought him to be routed in that hard-fought battle.

Word by Word

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• tam: him

• ālokya: having seen

• palāyantam: fleeing, running away

• vibhraṣṭa: fallen off, lost

• dhvaja: banner, standard

• kārmukam: bow

• harim: Hari (Vishnu/one bearing the name Hari)

• devaḥ: the god (here, Indra)

• sahasrākṣaḥ: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)

• mene: considered, thought

• bhagnam: broken, defeated, routed

• durāhave: in a difficult battle, in hard-to-fight combat

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Ugraśravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūta
• Hari
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Battle narrative
• Indra
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Puranic epic scene

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe creation or pralaya; it is a battlefield observation where Indra interprets Hari’s retreat as defeat.

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

Indirectly, it highlights a rājadharma lesson: in war and leadership, appearances can mislead—wise judgment requires understanding strategy rather than assuming defeat from retreat.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is purely narrative, focusing on battle signs like the fallen banner and lost bow.