Shloka 192

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

Devanagari script

स रथं चूर्णयामास न ममार च मातलिः गृहीत्वा पट्टिशं दैत्यो जघानोरसि केशवम् //

Transliteration

sa rathaṃ cūrṇayāmāsa na mamāra ca mātaliḥ gṛhītvā paṭṭiśaṃ daityo jaghānorasi keśavam //

Translation

He smashed the chariot to pieces, yet Mātali did not die. Then the Daitya, seizing a paṭṭiśa (a bladed spear/axe), struck Keśava upon the chest.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• रथम् (ratham): chariot

• चूर्णयामास (cūrṇayāmāsa): crushed/smashed to pieces

• न (na): not

• ममार (mamāra): died

• च (ca): and/yet

• मातलिः (mātaliḥ): Mātali (the charioteer)

• गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā): having seized/taken up

• पट्टिशम् (paṭṭiśam): a paṭṭiśa weapon (bladed spear/axe)

• दैत्यः (daityaḥ): the Daitya/demon

• जघान (jaghāna): struck/smote

• उरसि (urasi): on the chest

• केशवम् (keśavam): Keśava (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa).

Speaker

• Sūta/primary Purāṇic narrator (narrating a battle episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Mātali
• Daitya
• Keśava

Tags

• Battle
• Vaishnava
• Daitya
• Epic narrative
• Weapons

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmogony; it is a martial scene emphasizing divine conflict and the resilience of key figures amid destruction.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ethic that adharma is confronted through courage and protection of order—an ideal mirrored in the king’s duty (rājadharma) to restrain violent, disruptive forces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the technical item here is the weapon term paṭṭiśa, useful for interpreting Matsya Purana martial vocabulary rather than temple architecture rules.