Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

शतक्रतोरमरनिकायपालिता पताकिनी गजशतवाजिनादिता सितोन्नतध्वजपटकोटिमण्डिता बभूव सा दितिसुतशोकवर्धिनी //

Transliteration

śatakratoramaranikāyapālitā patākinī gajaśatavājināditā sitonnatadhvajapaṭakoṭimaṇḍitā babhūva sā ditisutaśokavardhinī //

Translation

Guarded by Śatakratu (Indra) and the hosts of the immortals, that bannered army advanced—resounding with hundreds of elephants and horses, adorned with lofty white standards and countless flag-cloths—becoming a cause that increased the sorrow of Diti’s son (the Daitya).

Word by Word

• शतक्रतोः (śatakratoḥ): of Śatakratu/Indra

• अमर-निकाय (amara-nikāya): hosts of the immortals (gods)

• पालिता (pālitā): protected/guarded

• पताकिनी (patākinī): bannered, bearing flags (an army)

• गज-शत (gaja-śata): hundreds of elephants

• वाजि (vāji): horses/steeds

• नादिता (nāditā): made to resound/clamorous

• सित (sita): white

• उन्नत (unnata): lofty/raised

• ध्वज (dhvaja): standard/banner

• पट (paṭa): cloth/flag-cloth

• कोटि (koṭi): myriad/crore, countless

• मण्डिता (maṇḍitā): adorned/decorated

• बभूव (babhūva): became

• सा (sā): that (army/host)

• दिति-सुत (diti-suta): Diti’s son (a Daitya/asura)

• शोक (śoka): grief/sorrow

• वर्धिनी (vardhinī): increasing/augmenting

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Śatakratu (Indra)
• Amaras (Devas)
• Diti’s son (Daitya/Asura)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Indra
• Battle imagery
• Puranic armies
• Epic description

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a martial description of Indra’s deva-host advancing with banners, elephants, and horses, emphasizing worldly conflict rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it highlights classical ideals of organized protection and leadership: Indra and the devas “guard” and marshal a disciplined force—an image often used in Puranic literature to model royal preparedness, protection of subjects, and strategic order in governance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse mainly uses iconographic-military vocabulary (dhvaja, patākā, paṭa). While not Vāstu-specific, it preserves traditional terminology for standards and banners used in royal processions and ceremonial displays.