Shloka 161

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्योजनविस्तीर्णं सिद्धसंघपरिष्कृतम् गन्धर्वकिंनरोद्गीतम् अप्सरोनृत्यसंकुलम् //

Transliteration

caturyojanavistīrṇaṃ siddhasaṃghapariṣkṛtam gandharvakiṃnarodgītam apsaronṛtyasaṃkulam //

Translation

It was spread across four yojanas, splendidly adorned by the assemblies of Siddhas; resounding with the songs of Gandharvas and Kiṃnaras, and thronged with the dances of Apsarases.

Word by Word

• catur-yojana-vistīrṇam: extending four yojanas in breadth/expanse

• siddha-saṅgha-pariṣkṛtam: beautified/adorned by the company (assemblies) of Siddhas

• gandharva-kiṃnara-udgītam: filled with the sung melodies of Gandharvas and Kiṃnaras

• apsarā-nṛtya-saṃkulam: crowded/abounding with the dances of Apsarases

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s discourse framework

Entities Mentioned

• Siddhas
• Gandharvas
• Kiṃnaras
• Apsarases

Tags

• Vastuvidya
• Divine Assembly
• Temple/Palace Splendor
• Celestial Beings
• Puranic Cosmology

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it portrays an idealized, celestial, orderly space—imagery often used in the Purana to contrast harmony and divine order with cosmic disruption.

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

By depicting a well-ordered, celebrated assembly space, it indirectly supports the royal ideal of maintaining cultured public halls—where auspicious arts, refined gatherings, and dharmic order flourish under proper governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key architectural marker is scale—“four yojanas in extent”—along with the notion of an auspicious, consecrated environment enhanced by sacred aesthetics (music, dance, and divine presence), aligning with Vastu ideals of grandeur and purity.