Shloka 105

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

Devanagari script

शान्तमाग्नेयमस्त्रं तत् प्रविलोक्य सुराधिपः वायव्यम् अस्त्रम् अकरोन् मेघसंघातनाशनम् //

Transliteration

śāntamāgneyamastraṃ tat pravilokya surādhipaḥ vāyavyam astram akaron meghasaṃghātanāśanam //

Translation

Seeing that the fire-weapon had been quenched, the Lord of the gods then employed the Wind-weapon, the destroyer of masses of clouds.

Word by Word

• śāntam: pacified/quenched

• āgneyam: of Agni (fiery)

• astram: missile/weapon (invoked mantra-weapon)

• tat: that

• pravilokya: having observed/seen

• surādhipaḥ: the lord of the gods (Indra)

• vāyavyam: of Vāyu (wind)

• astram: weapon

• akaron: made/used/let loose

• megha: cloud

• saṃghāta: mass/cluster/compact body

• nāśanam: destroying/dispersing

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Indra’s action; commonly Sūta relating the account in discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Surādhipa (Indra)
• Agni (implied by āgneyāstra)
• Vāyu (implied by vāyavyāstra)

Tags

• Astras
• Deva–Asura
• Indra
• Mantra-weapons
• Cosmic warfare

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it shows a Puranic principle of cosmic regulation where elemental forces (fire and wind) are invoked in a controlled, counterbalancing way—symbolically echoing how nature’s powers are checked and restored to order.

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

By analogy, it teaches measured response: when one force has been pacified, the next action should restore stability rather than escalate harm—an ethical model for rulers to neutralize threats proportionately and protect the realm (and for householders to resolve conflicts without excess).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it reflects the logic of śānti (pacification) and elemental balancing used in rites—fire and wind as controllable principles; while not a Vāstu rule itself, it aligns with Vāstu’s emphasis on harmonizing the pañca-mahābhūtas (elements) to prevent destructive imbalance.