Shloka 141

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

Devanagari script

स नाग एष नो भयं दधाति मुक्तजीवितो न दानवस्य शक्यते मया तदेकयाननम् इति प्रियाय वल्लभा वदन्ति यक्षयोषितः परे कपालपाणयः पिशाचयक्षराक्षसाः //

Transliteration

sa nāga eṣa no bhayaṃ dadhāti muktajīvito na dānavasya śakyate mayā tadekayānanam iti priyāya vallabhā vadanti yakṣayoṣitaḥ pare kapālapāṇayaḥ piśācayakṣarākṣasāḥ //

Translation

“This Nāga brings fear upon us; I have barely escaped with my life. I am not able to face that Dānava in single combat.” Thus the lovers spoke to their beloveds—those Yakṣa women—while nearby were skull-bearing beings: Piśācas, Yakṣas, and Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he/that one

• nāgaḥ: nāga, serpent-being

• eṣaḥ: this

• naḥ: to us/our

• bhayam: fear

• dadhāti: causes/places

• mukta-jīvitaḥ: having escaped with life, barely alive

• na: not

• dānavasya: of the dānava (demonic being)

• śakyate: is possible/can be done

• mayā: by me

• tat: that

• ekayānanam (eka-yāna/eka-yānaṃ): single encounter/one-on-one confrontation (prob. intended as ‘in single combat’)

• iti: thus

• priyāya: to the beloved

• vallabhāḥ: lovers, dear ones

• vadanti: say/speak

• yakṣa-yoṣitaḥ: yakṣa women

• pare: nearby/elsewhere/around

• kapāla-pāṇayaḥ: skull-in-hand, skull-bearing

• piśāca-yakṣa-rākṣasāḥ: piśācas, yakṣas, and rākṣasas

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta conveying the scene in dialogue form)

Entities Mentioned

• Nāga
• Dānava
• Yakṣa-yoṣit (Yaksha women)
• Kapāla-pāṇi (skull-bearing beings)
• Piśāca
• Yakṣa
• Rākṣasa

Tags

• Yaksha-Rakshasa
• Protective rites
• Apotropaic imagery
• Purāṇic beings
• Fear and confrontation

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a fear-laden encounter narrative involving Nāgas, Dānavas, and other liminal beings (Piśāca/Yakṣa/Rākṣasa), reflecting the Purāṇic worldview rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it underscores vigilance and protection from harmful influences—ideas that the Matsya Purāṇa often channels into dharmic governance (rakṣaṇa/protection) and household safeguarding through proper conduct and prescribed rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

While no explicit Vāstu rule is stated, the mention of skull-bearing and nocturnal/liminal beings aligns with apotropaic (warding) concerns that, in Vāstu and temple practice, are addressed through protective placements, boundary rites, and consecratory rituals intended to prevent inauspicious intrusion.