Shloka 174

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

Devanagari script

ततो निवार्य तद्बाणजालं सुरभुजेरितम् बाणैर्व्योम दिशः पृथ्वीं पूरयामास दानवः //

Transliteration

tato nivārya tadbāṇajālaṃ surabhujeritam bāṇairvyoma diśaḥ pṛthvīṃ pūrayāmāsa dānavaḥ //

Translation

Then, having checked that net of arrows discharged from the arm of the god, the Dānava in turn filled the sky, the quarters, and the earth with his own arrows.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• nivārya: having restrained/warded off

• tad-bāṇa-jālam: that net/volley of arrows

• sura-bhuja-īritam: released/impelled from the god’s arm

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows

• vyoma: the sky

• diśaḥ: the directions/quarters

• pṛthvīm: the earth

• pūrayāmāsa: filled/completely covered

• dānavaḥ: the Dānava (demon/Asura).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava
• Sura (a god/deva)

Tags

• Deva-Asura battle
• Archery
• Puranic warfare
• Heroic narrative
• Matsya Purana episode

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it uses martial imagery—an overwhelming shower of arrows filling sky and directions—to intensify a battlefield scene rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects kṣātra ideals: meeting force with disciplined counter-force and protecting one’s side by neutralizing the enemy’s assault—an ethic later applied to royal duty (protection of realm and order).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure appears here; the key takeaway is narrative technique—‘filling the quarters’ (diśaḥ) is a conventional epic-Puranic expression for total coverage and dominance in combat.