Shloka 113

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

Devanagari script

स ममर्द सुरानीकं दन्तैश्चाप्यहनत्सुरान् बभञ्ज पृष्ठतः कांश्चित् करेणावेष्ट्य दानवः //

Transliteration

sa mamarda surānīkaṃ dantaiścāpyahanatsurān babhañja pṛṣṭhataḥ kāṃścit kareṇāveṣṭya dānavaḥ //

Translation

That Dānava crushed the army of the gods; with his tusks he struck down the Devas. Seizing some from behind by wrapping them in his arm, he broke them to pieces.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• ममर्द (mamarda): crushed, ground down

• सुर-अनीकम् (sura-anīkam): the host/army of the gods

• दन्तैः (dantaiḥ): with (his) teeth

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• अहनत् (ahanat): struck, slew

• सुरान् (surān): the gods (Devas)

• बभञ्ज (babhañja): broke, shattered

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ): from behind

• कांश्चित् (kāṃścit): some (of them)

• करेण (kareṇa): with (his) hand/arm

• आवेष्ट्य (āveṣṭya): having wrapped/encircled, having seized by enfolding

• दानवः (dānavaḥ): the demon (Dānava).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battle events

Entities Mentioned

• Devas (Suras)
• Dānava (a demon combatant)

Tags

• Deva-Danava war
• Battle description
• Puranic warfare
• Epic violence
• Mythic conflict

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battlefield vignette describing a Dānava overpowering the Devas, not a cosmogonic or Pralaya teaching.

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

Indirectly, it functions as a cautionary war-image: uncontrolled violence and brute force are portrayed as demonic traits, implying that righteous kingship (dharma-yuddha, restraint, protection of subjects) should differ from such brutality.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated; the verse contains no Vastu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure—only combat action.