Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

शरैरग्निकल्पैश्चकाराशु दैत्यस् तथा राक्षसान्भीतभीतान्दिशासु पृषत्कैश्च रूक्षैर्विकारप्रयुक्तं चकारानिलं लीलयैवासुरेशः //

Transliteration

śarairagnikalpaiścakārāśu daityas tathā rākṣasānbhītabhītāndiśāsu pṛṣatkaiśca rūkṣairvikāraprayuktaṃ cakārānilaṃ līlayaivāsureśaḥ //

Translation

With arrows like blazing fire the lord of the Asuras swiftly struck down the Daityas; and the Rākṣasas—terrified—were driven in all directions. With harsh, piercing shafts he also, as if in sport, stirred up a wind made turbulent by violent disturbance.

Word by Word

• शरैः (śaraiḥ): with arrows

• अग्निकल्पैः (agni-kalpaiḥ): like fire, fire-like

• चकार (cakāra): he made/did/caused

• आशु (āśu): swiftly

• दैत्यान् (daityān): the Daityas (demons)

• तथा (tathā): and also

• राक्षसान् (rākṣasān): the Rākṣasas

• भीतभीतान् (bhīta-bhītān): greatly frightened, panic-stricken

• दिशासु (diśāsu): in the directions, to all quarters

• पृषत्कैः (pṛṣatkaiḥ): with darts/arrows/shafts

• च (ca): and

• रूक्षैः (rūkṣaiḥ): harsh, rough, severe

• विकारप्रयुक्तम् (vikāra-prayuktam): set into agitation/disturbance, driven into a turbulent state

• चकार (cakāra): he caused

• अनिलम् (anilam): the wind

• लीलया (līlayā): playfully, as a sport

• एव (eva): indeed/only

• असुरेशः (āsureśaḥ): the lord of the Asuras (Asura-king).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) describing the battlefield feat (speaker not explicit in the verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Asureśa (Asura-king)
• Daityas
• Rākṣasas
• Anila (Wind)

Tags

• Battle
• Daityas
• Rakshasas
• Divine Weapons
• Puranic Warfare

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead it uses cosmic-scale imagery (fire-like arrows and wind stirred into turbulence) typical of Purāṇic battle scenes, where martial power is portrayed as capable of disturbing even elemental forces.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of decisive power and protective force: a ruler’s duty (rājadharma) includes the capacity to subdue threats swiftly and prevent fear and disorder from spreading—here dramatized through enemies scattering in all directions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the closest ritual-technical element is the implied use of weapon-power (astra-like effects) and elemental disturbance (wind), which functions as poetic battlefield symbolism rather than temple or rite instruction.