Shloka 181

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

Devanagari script

पुनश्च दैत्यो देवानां तिलशो नतपर्वभिः चकार वर्मजातानि चिछेद च धनूंषि तु ततो विकवचा देवा विधनुष्काः शरैः कृताः //

Transliteration

punaśca daityo devānāṃ tilaśo nataparvabhiḥ cakāra varmajātāni cicheda ca dhanūṃṣi tu tato vikavacā devā vidhanuṣkāḥ śaraiḥ kṛtāḥ //

Translation

Then again the Daitya struck: with his arrows whose joints were bent (barbed), he reduced the gods to fragments like sesame-seeds; he shattered their various armors and also cut apart their bows. Thereupon the gods were left without armor and without bows, brought to that state by his shafts.

Word by Word

• punaḥ/punaś ca: again, once more

• daityaḥ: the Daitya (demon, anti-god warrior)

• devānām: of the gods

• tilaśaḥ: into tiny bits, like sesame-seeds, into fragments

• nata-parvabhiḥ: with (arrows) having bent joints/knots, barbed at the segments

• cakāra: made, rendered

• varma-jātāni: kinds/sets of armor

• ciccheda: cut, severed

• ca: and

• dhanūṃṣi: bows

• tu: indeed/then

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• vi-kavacāḥ: without armor, stripped of cuirasses

• devāḥ: the gods

• vi-dhanuṣkāḥ: without bows, disarmed of bows

• śaraiḥ: by arrows/shafts

• kṛtāḥ: made, caused to become.

Speaker

• Suta (Purana narrator) describing the battle events

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Devas

Tags

• Deva-Daitya war
• Battle narrative
• Weapons
• Armor
• Bows and arrows

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a martial episode where a Daitya overwhelms the Devas by destroying their armor and bows with arrows.

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

Indirectly, it echoes rajadharma themes of preparedness and protection: the loss of armor and weapons symbolizes vulnerability when defenses, discipline, and resources fail in the face of a stronger assault.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is on weaponry—arrows, armor (varma), and bows (dhanus)—within a Puranic battle description.