Shloka 159

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

Devanagari script

रणायाभ्यपतत्तूर्णं सैन्येन महता वृतः जम्भास्त्रक्षतसर्वाङ्गं त्यक्त्वैरावतदन्तिनम् //

Transliteration

raṇāyābhyapatattūrṇaṃ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ jambhāstrakṣatasarvāṅgaṃ tyaktvairāvatadantinam //

Translation

Hurriedly rushing into battle, surrounded by a great army, he abandoned the elephant Airāvata—its entire body wounded by the Jambha-weapon.

Word by Word

• रणाय (raṇāya): for battle

• अभ्यपतत् (abhyapatat): rushed/charged toward

• तूर्णम् (tūrṇam): swiftly

• सैन्येन (sainyena): with/by the army

• महता (mahatā): great/large

• वृतः (vṛtaḥ): surrounded/encircled

• जम्भास्त्र (jambhāstra): the Jambha-weapon (a named missile/astral weapon)

• क्षत (kṣata): wounded/struck

• सर्वाङ्गम् (sarvāṅgam): all limbs/entire body

• त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā): having abandoned/left behind

• ऐरावत (airāvata): Airāvata (Indra’s elephant)

• दन्तिनम् (dantinam): the tusked one/elephant

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the battle narrative (contextual attribution within Matsya Purana’s genealogical-heroic sections)

Entities Mentioned

• Airavata
• Jambhastra

Tags

• Dynasties
• Battle narrative
• Astras
• Puranic warfare
• Epic-style episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmogony; it is a battlefield description focused on military movement and the effects of a named weapon (jambhāstra).

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

Indirectly, it reflects rājadharma in wartime: tactical withdrawal/abandonment of a mount when incapacitated, and the realism of protecting forces amid deadly astras—practical conduct within a kṣatriya battlefield setting.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vāstu/temple-architecture or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical element is martial—identifying an astra (jambhāstra) and its battlefield impact.