Shloka 175

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

Devanagari script

चिछेद पुङ्खदेशेषु स्वके स्थाने च लाघवात् बाणजालैः सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैः कङ्कबर्हिणवाजितैः //

Transliteration

cicheda puṅkhadeśeṣu svake sthāne ca lāghavāt bāṇajālaiḥ sutīkṣṇāgraiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇavājitaiḥ //

Translation

With swift precision, he cut the arrows at their feathered ends, right where they were, using a shower of arrows with razor-sharp points, fletched with vulture-feathers and peacock-plumes.

Word by Word

• चिछेद (ciccheda): cut asunder

• पुङ्ख-देशेषु (puṅkha-deśeṣu): at the fletched/feathered portions of the arrows

• स्वके स्थाने (svake sthāne): in their own place/right where they were

• च (ca): and

• लाघवात् (lāghavāt): due to lightness/speed/agility

• बाण-जालैः (bāṇa-jālaiḥ): with a net/shower/volley of arrows

• सु-तीक्ष्ण-अग्रैः (su-tīkṣṇa-agraiḥ): having very sharp tips

• कङ्क-बर्हिण-वाजितैः (kaṅka-barhiṇa-vājitaiḥ): fletched/adorned with (kaṅka = vulture/heron) feathers and (barhiṇa = peacock) plumes

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the combat scene (third-person narration within the Matsya Purana dialogue framework)

Tags

• Kshatriya Dharma
• Battle Poetics
• Archery
• Weaponry
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a martial description emphasizing speed and technical archery skill in a battle narrative.

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

It reflects Kshatriya-dharma ideals—discipline, mastery of weapons, and decisive action in conflict—qualities expected of a ruler and protector in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the technical detail is about weapon-craft—sharp arrowheads and traditional fletching materials used for accuracy and force.