Shloka 147

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

Devanagari script

दैत्यास्त्रभिन्नसर्वाङ्गा ह्य् अकिंचित्करतां गताः परस्परं व्यलीयन्त गावः शीतार्दिता इव //

Transliteration

daityāstrabhinnasarvāṅgā hy akiṃcitkaratāṃ gatāḥ parasparaṃ vyalīyanta gāvaḥ śītārditā iva //

Translation

The Daityas—pierced in every limb by missiles—were reduced to helplessness, and in confusion they seemed to melt into one another, like cattle stricken by cold.

Word by Word

• दैत्याः (daityāḥ): the Daityas/demons

• अस्त्र-भिन्न-सर्वाङ्गाः (astra-bhinna-sarvāṅgāḥ): having all limbs split/pierced by weapons

• हि (hi): indeed

• अकिञ्चित्करताम् (akiṃcitkaratām): a state of having no power/being incapable (literally, 'able to do nothing')

• गताः (gatāḥ): having gone/come to

• परस्परम् (parasparam): mutually/into each other

• व्यलीयन्त (vyalīyanta): they dissolved/melted away/crumbled

• गावः (gāvaḥ): cows/cattle

• शीत-आर्दिताः (śīta-ārditāḥ): afflicted by cold

• इव (iva): like/as if

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) or the primary Purana narrator describing the battlefield (contextual narration rather than direct speech)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityas

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Martial imagery
• Defeat of demons
• Puranic battle
• Simile (upama)

FAQs

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

It is not a Pralaya (cosmic dissolution) verse; it depicts a localized “dissolution” in battle—Daityas collapsing into helpless confusion after being struck by weapons.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s ethic that adharma-driven aggression ends in ruin: power without righteousness collapses, while a king’s duty is disciplined protection, not destructive tyranny.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is a martial description using a vivid simile to convey panic and breakdown among the Daityas.