Shloka 188

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

Devanagari script

अथानम्य चापं हरिस्तीक्ष्णबाणैर् हनत्सारथिं दैत्यराजस्य हृद्यम् ध्वजं धूमकेतुः किरीटं महेन्द्रो धनेशो धनुः काञ्चनानद्धपृष्ठम् यमो बाहुदण्डं रथाङ्गानि वायुर् निशाचारिणाम् ईश्वरस्यापि वर्म //

Transliteration

athānamya cāpaṃ haristīkṣṇabāṇair hanatsārathiṃ daityarājasya hṛdyam dhvajaṃ dhūmaketuḥ kirīṭaṃ mahendro dhaneśo dhanuḥ kāñcanānaddhapṛṣṭham yamo bāhudaṇḍaṃ rathāṅgāni vāyur niśācāriṇām īśvarasyāpi varma //

Translation

Then Hari, bending his bow, struck with sharp arrows the charioteer and the heart of the Daitya-king. Dhūmaketu shattered the banner; Mahendra felled the crown; Dhaneśa cut down the bow with its back plated in gold; Yama struck the arm-staff; and Vāyu smashed the chariot-parts—indeed, even the armour of the lord of the night-roamers was broken.

Word by Word

• अथ (atha): then

• आनम्य (ānamya): having bent/drawn down

• चापम् (cāpam): bow

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari (Viṣṇu)

• तीक्ष्ण-बाणैः (tīkṣṇa-bāṇaiḥ): with sharp arrows

• हनत् (hanat): struck/slew

• सारथिम् (sārathim): charioteer

• दैत्य-राजस्य (daitya-rājasya): of the king of Daityas

• हृद्यम् (hṛdyam): the heart/vital region

• ध्वजम् (dhvajam): banner/standard

• धूमकेतुः (dhūmaketuḥ): Dhūmaketu (a warrior/commander)

• किरीटम् (kirīṭam): crown/diadem

• महेन्द्रः (mahendraḥ): Mahendra (Indra)

• धनेशः (dhaneśaḥ): Dhaneśa (Kubera)

• धनुः (dhanuḥ): bow

• काञ्चन-आनद्ध-पृष्ठम् (kāñcana-ānaddha-pṛṣṭham): gold-plated/backed with gold

• यमः (yamaḥ): Yama

• बाहु-दण्डम् (bāhu-daṇḍam): arm-staff/arm-support (of the chariot/war-gear)

• रथ-अङ्गानि (ratha-aṅgāni): parts of the chariot

• वायुः (vāyuḥ): Vāyu (wind-god)

• निशाचारिणाम् (niśācāriṇām): of the night-wanderers/demons

• ईश्वरस्य (īśvarasya): of the lord

• अपि (api): even

• वर्म (varma): armour/coat of mail

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Daitya-raja (Demon king)
• Dhūmaketu
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Dhaneśa (Kubera)
• Yama
• Vāyu
• Niśācāriṇām (night-roamers/demons)

Tags

• Battle
• Deva–Daitya
• Epic warfare
• Divine weapons
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it is a martial description emphasizing divine forces dismantling a Daitya-king’s power through the destruction of chariot, insignia, and armour.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣātra ideal: royal power is upheld by dharma and can be shattered when aligned against cosmic order—symbolized by the loss of banner, crown, weapons, and protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the technical imagery is martial—chariot anatomy (rathāṅga), royal emblems (dhvaja, kirīṭa), and protective gear (varma).