Shloka 114

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

Devanagari script

ततः क्षपयतस्तस्य सुरसैन्यानि वृत्रहा अस्त्रं त्रैलोक्यदुर्धर्षं नारसिंहं मुमोच ह //

Transliteration

tataḥ kṣapayatastasya surasainyāni vṛtrahā astraṃ trailokyadurdharṣaṃ nārasiṃhaṃ mumoca ha //

Translation

Then, as he was annihilating the armies of the gods, Vṛtrahā (Indra) released the Nārasiṃha weapon—an irresistible missile, hard to withstand in all the three worlds.

Word by Word

• ततः (tataḥ): then

• क्षपयतः (kṣapayataḥ): of (him) destroying/causing to perish

• तस्य (tasya): of him/that one

• सुरसैन्यानि (surasainyāni): the armies of the gods

• वृत्रहा (vṛtrahā): Vṛtra-slayer (Indra)

• अस्त्रं (astraṃ): a weapon/missile

• त्रैलोक्य-दुर्धर्षं (trailokya-durdharṣaṃ): difficult to resist in the three worlds

• नारसिंहं (nārasiṃhaṃ): belonging to Narasiṃha (the Man-Lion)

• मुमोच (mumoca): released/let loose

• ह (ha): indeed/emphatic particle.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Vṛtrahā)
• Devas (Sura-sainyas)
• Nārasiṃha Astra
• Trailokya (three worlds)

Tags

• Deva-Asura War
• Divine Weapons
• Narasimha
• Indra
• Puranic Warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it highlights cosmic-scale conflict where a divine astra is said to be “irresistible in the three worlds,” reflecting the Purāṇic idea that events in heaven, earth, and the nether realms are interconnected.

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

Indirectly, it models the dharmic principle of using force with discernment: Indra deploys a specific, overwhelming weapon only at a critical moment, paralleling the ideal that rulers should apply punishment (daṇḍa) proportionately and as a last resort to protect order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the Purāṇic emphasis on consecrated power (astra-śakti) associated with a deity-form (Nārasiṃha), a theme often echoed in protective rites and deity-invoked safeguards.