Shloka 180

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

Devanagari script

तथा च मातलिं दैत्यो विव्याध त्रिभिराशुगैः गरुडं दशभिश्चैव स विव्याध पतत्रिभिः //

Transliteration

tathā ca mātaliṃ daityo vivyādha tribhirāśugaiḥ garuḍaṃ daśabhiścaiva sa vivyādha patatribhiḥ //

Translation

Then the Daitya struck Mātali with three swift arrows, and he also pierced Garuḍa with ten—while Garuḍa in turn wounded him with his wing-feathers.

Word by Word

• तथा (tathā): then/thus

• च (ca): and

• मातलिम् (mātalim): Mātali (Indra’s charioteer)

• दैत्यः (daityaḥ): the Daitya/demon

• विव्याध (vivyādha): pierced/wounded

• त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ): with three

• आशुगैः (āśugaiḥ): swift (arrows)

• गरुडम् (garuḍam): Garuḍa

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• चैव (caiva): and indeed/also

• सः (saḥ): he (Garuḍa)

• विव्याध (vivyādha): pierced/wounded

• पतत्रिभिः (patatribhiḥ): with wing-feathers (lit. ‘that which belongs to wings’).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relaying the battle episode (likely within a larger dialogue frame of the Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Mātali
• Daitya
• Garuḍa

Tags

• Daitya-yuddha
• Garuḍa
• Deva-episodes
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a martial exchange in a Deva–Daitya conflict, emphasizing swift weaponry and counterattack rather than cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it reflects Purāṇic ideals of valor and readiness in conflict—qualities later mapped onto kṣatriya duty (protecting allies and responding proportionately to aggression), though this specific line is purely narrative combat description.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is on battle imagery—arrows and Garuḍa’s feather-like missiles.