Shloka 177

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

Devanagari script

ततः शतेन बाणानां शक्रं विव्याध दानवः नारायणं च सप्तत्या नवत्या च हुताशनम् //

Transliteration

tataḥ śatena bāṇānāṃ śakraṃ vivyādha dānavaḥ nārāyaṇaṃ ca saptatyā navatyā ca hutāśanam //

Translation

Then the Dānava pierced Śakra (Indra) with a hundred arrows; Nārāyaṇa with seventy; and Hutāśana (Agni) with ninety.

Word by Word

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

• शतेन (śatena): with a hundred

• बाणानाम् (bāṇānām): of arrows

• शक्रम् (śakram): Śakra/Indra

• विव्याध (vivyādha): pierced/wounded

• दानवः (dānavaḥ): the Dānava/demon

• नारायणम् (nārāyaṇam): Nārāyaṇa/Vişṇu

• च (ca): and

• सप्तत्या (saptatyā): with seventy

• नवत्या (navatyā): with ninety

• हुताशनम् (hutāśanam): Hutāśana/Agni (fire-god).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle (contextual narration within the Purāṇic discourse)

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava
• Śakra (Indra)
• Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu)
• Hutāśana (Agni)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Puranic battle
• Indra
• Vishnu
• Agni

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya or cosmology; it is a battlefield detail emphasizing the intensity of Deva–Asura conflict through the quantified wounding of major deities.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of kṣātra-dharma: steadfastness in conflict and the protection of order (dharma). The verse itself is descriptive, not prescriptive, but it supports the broader theme that even the mighty face trials and must remain resolute.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple architecture, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; it is purely a martial narration naming deities and the number of arrows used.