Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

मृतं महिषमासाद्य वने गोमायवो यथा कपालिनं परित्यज्य गतश्चासुरपुंगवः //

Transliteration

mṛtaṃ mahiṣamāsādya vane gomāyavo yathā kapālinaṃ parityajya gataścāsurapuṃgavaḥ //

Translation

Just as jackals in a forest, finding a dead buffalo, abandon the Skull-bearer (Śiva) and slip away, so too that foremost of Asuras, forsaking Kapālin, departed.

Word by Word

• mṛtam: dead

• mahiṣam: buffalo

• āsādya: having reached/found

• vane: in the forest

• gomāyavaḥ: jackals

• yathā: just as

• kapālinam: the Skull-bearer (Kapālin, i.e., Śiva)

• parityajya: abandoning, forsaking

• gataḥ ca: and went away/departed

• asura-puṅgavaḥ: the best/foremost among Asuras (a leading demon)

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice) [probable Purāṇic narration style for this episode]

Entities Mentioned

• Kapālin (Śiva)
• Asura (a leading demon)
• Gomāyu (jackal)

Tags

• Asura-episode
• Puranic simile
• Shaiva epithet
• Conflict narrative
• Mythic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya directly; it uses a vivid forest simile to describe an Asura’s retreat and abandonment, functioning as narrative imagery rather than cosmology.

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

Indirectly, it warns against fickle allegiance: the Asura abandons Kapālin when circumstances change, implying that steadiness in duty (dharma) and loyalty to rightful support is ethically preferable.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the only ritual-theological marker is the epithet 'Kapālin' for Śiva, which can be relevant for identifying Śaiva iconographic/epithet usage in Purāṇic cataloging.