Shloka 150

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

Devanagari script

स मन्त्रमुच्चार्य यतान्तराशयो वधाय दैत्यस्य धियाभिसंध्य तु विकृष्य कर्णान्तम् अकुण्ठदीधितिं मुमोच वीक्ष्याम्बरमार्गमुन्मुखः //

Transliteration

sa mantramuccārya yatāntarāśayo vadhāya daityasya dhiyābhisaṃdhya tu vikṛṣya karṇāntam akuṇṭhadīdhitiṃ mumoca vīkṣyāmbaramārgamunmukhaḥ //

Translation

Reciting a mantra, intent within himself on the demon’s destruction and resolved in mind, he drew back the bowstring to his ear and released the unblunted, radiant missile, looking upward along its path through the sky.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• मन्त्रम् (mantram): mantra, sacred formula

• उच्चार्य (uccārya): having uttered/recited

• यत-अन्तर-आशयः (yat-antar-āśayaḥ): with inner intention fixed/controlled within

• वधाय (vadhāya): for the slaying

• दैत्यस्य (daityasya): of the Daitya (demon)

• धिया (dhiyā): with mind/intellect

• अभिसंध्य (abhisaṃdhya): having aimed/targeted, having resolved

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• विकृष्य (vikṛṣya): having drawn back

• कर्णान्तम् (karṇāntam): up to the ear (ear-length draw)

• अकुण्ठ-दीधितिम् (akuṇṭha-dīdhitim): whose brilliance is not dulled, of undiminished radiance

• मुमोच (mumoca): he released/let fly

• वीक्ष्य (vīkṣya): having looked

• अम्बर-मार्गम् (ambara-mārgam): the path in the sky

• उन्मुखः (unmukhaḥ): facing upward, with face raised

Speaker

• Narrator (Sūta-style Purāṇic narration; third-person battle description)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Mantra
• Divine missile/arrow (astra)

Tags

• Daitya-vadha
• Mantra
• Astra
• Puranic warfare
• Ritualized combat

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it depicts a focused, mantra-accompanied act of slaying a daitya, emphasizing ritualized intent and the empowered release of an astra.

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

It reflects the kṣātra ideal of disciplined action: one should act with clear intention (dhiyābhisaṃdhya), restraint, and righteous purpose—especially when force is used to remove adharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is explicit: mantra-recitation preceding action and the technical martial detail of drawing the bow to the ear (karṇānta), indicating codified, methodical procedure rather than impulsive violence.