Shloka 151

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

Devanagari script

अथासुरः प्रेक्ष्य महास्त्रमाहितं विहाय मायामवनौ व्यतिष्ठत प्रवेपमानेन मुखेन शुष्यता बलेन गात्रेण च संभ्रमाकुलः //

Transliteration

athāsuraḥ prekṣya mahāstramāhitaṃ vihāya māyāmavanau vyatiṣṭhata pravepamānena mukhena śuṣyatā balena gātreṇa ca saṃbhramākulaḥ //

Translation

Then the Asura, seeing the great missile set in motion, abandoned his magic and stood upon the ground—his face trembling and drying up, his limbs drained of strength, and his mind thrown into confusion.

Word by Word

• atha: then

• asuraḥ: the Asura (demon)

• prekṣya: having seen

• mahāstram: the great weapon/missile

• āhitam: placed/charged/let loose (set for discharge)

• vihāya: abandoning

• māyām: illusion, magical power

• avanau: on the earth/ground

• vyatiṣṭhata: he stood/held his position

• pravepamānena: trembling violently

• mukhena: with (his) face

• śuṣyatā: drying up, becoming parched

• balena: with strength/power

• gātreṇa: with (his) body/limbs

• ca: and

• saṃbhrama-ākulaḥ: overwhelmed by agitation/confusion.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battlefield moment (third-person narration within the Matsya Purana narrative flow)

Entities Mentioned

• Asura
• Mahāstra

Tags

• Deva-Asura
• Mahāstra
• Maya
• Fear
• Battlefield

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it depicts a psychological collapse in battle—when confronted by a “mahāstra,” the Asura’s māyā fails and fear manifests physically (trembling, dryness, weakness).

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

Indirectly, it highlights a dharmic lesson valued in the Matsya Purana’s ethical tone: reliance on deception (māyā) is unstable, while steadfastness and inner strength are crucial when facing overwhelming threats—qualities expected of rulers and disciplined householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears in this verse; the technical focus is on astric vocabulary (mahāstra) and the collapse of māyā in the presence of a superior, consecrated force.