Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

भो भो गृह्णीत दैत्येन्द्रं मर्दतैनं हताश्रयम् कर्षतैनं शितैः शूलैर् भञ्जतैनं च मर्मसु //

Transliteration

bho bho gṛhṇīta daityendraṃ mardatainaṃ hatāśrayam karṣatainaṃ śitaiḥ śūlair bhañjatainaṃ ca marmasu //

Translation

“Ho! Ho! Seize the lord of the Daityas! Crush him—now bereft of support! Drag him with sharp tridents, and break him at his vital points!”

Word by Word

• भो भो (bho bho): hey! hey!

• गृह्णीत (gṛhṇīta): seize, capture

• दैत्येन्द्रम् (daityendram): the Daitya-king, lord of the demons

• मर्दत (mardata): crush, pound, subdue

• एनम् (enam): him

• हताश्रयम् (hatāśrayam): whose support/refuge is destroyed, helpless

• कर्षत (karṣata): drag, pull

• शितैः (śitaiḥ): sharp, keen

• शूलैः (śūlaiḥ): with tridents/spears

• भञ्जत (bhañjata): break, shatter

• एनम् (enam): him

• च (ca): and

• मर्मसु (marmasu): at the vital spots/joints (marmas).

Speaker

• Battle-field commander/warriors (collective cry), within the Matsya Purana narration (Sūta’s narration frame implied)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya-indra (Daitya King)
• Daityas

Tags

• Battle
• Daityas
• Puranic warfare
• Heroic narrative
• Dharma of protection

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a direct battle-command focused on capturing and disabling a Daitya leader, reflecting martial narration rather than cosmology.

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

It aligns with the kṣātra (royal/warrior) duty of protecting order by subduing violent forces; the emphasis on restraining a dangerous leader reflects the Purāṇic ideal of removing threats to dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is referenced; the technical term here is “marmasu” (vital points), indicating tactical combat knowledge rather than architecture.