Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

विषनिःश्वासनिर्दग्धं सुरसैन्यं महारथः ततो ऽस्त्रं गारुडं चक्रे शक्रश्चारुभुजस्तदा //

Transliteration

viṣaniḥśvāsanirdagdhaṃ surasainyaṃ mahārathaḥ tato 'straṃ gāruḍaṃ cakre śakraścārubhujastadā //

Translation

When the army of the gods had been scorched by poisonous blasts of breath, then Śakra (Indra)—the great chariot-warrior, strong-armed and splendid—thereupon employed the Gāruḍa weapon (Garuḍa-astra).

Word by Word

• viṣa: poison

• niḥśvāsa: exhalation/breath

• nirdagdham: burnt up, scorched

• sura-sainyam: the army of the gods

• mahārathaḥ: a great chariot-warrior (master of chariot warfare)

• tataḥ: then, thereafter

• astram: a divine missile/weapon (astra)

• gāruḍam: pertaining to Garuḍa, the Garuḍa-weapon

• cakre: he made/used/let loose (employed)

• śakraḥ: Śakra, Indra

• cāru-bhujaḥ: beautiful-armed, strong-armed

• tadā: at that time.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Śakra (Indra)
• Sura-sainya (army of the gods)
• Gāruḍa Astra

Tags

• Deva-Asura War
• Divine Weapons (Astra)
• Indra
• Puranic Battle Narrative
• Mythic Iconography (Garuḍa)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a battlefield crisis where the gods’ forces are burned by poisonous breath, prompting Indra to counter with the Garuḍa-astra.

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

Indirectly, it models rājadharma as decisive protection: a leader must respond swiftly with an appropriate remedy to a specific threat—here, Indra deploys a counter-weapon when his forces are endangered.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated; the technical point is astric lore—Garuḍa is traditionally invoked as an antidotal force against poison/serpentine danger, reflected here through the Gāruḍa weapon.