Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

निरुत्साहं रणे तस्मिन् गतयुद्धोत्सवोद्यमम् ततः पतत एवास्य चर्म चोत्कृत्य भैरवम् //

Transliteration

nirutsāhaṃ raṇe tasmin gatayuddhotsavodyamam tataḥ patata evāsya carma cotkṛtya bhairavam //

Translation

In that battle he became spiritless, his former martial exhilaration and enterprise spent. Then, as he fell, his hide (skin/armour) was cut off, and a dreadful, terrifying cry arose.

Word by Word

• nirutsāham: devoid of zeal, dispirited

• raṇe: in battle

• tasmin: in that (battle/encounter)

• gata: gone, spent

• yuddha-utsava: the ‘festival’ (exultant thrill) of war

• udyamam: effort, initiative

• tataḥ: then, thereafter

• patataḥ eva: even as (he was) falling

• asya: of him

• carma: skin, hide

• ca: and

• ut-kṛtya: having cut off, tearing away

• bhairavam: dreadful, terrifying

• (bhairava-śabdaḥ implied): a fearsome cry/roar.

Speaker

• Suta/primary narrator (contextual narration within the Matsya Purana’s battle account; not a direct speech of Matsya-Manu dialogue in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Bhairava (as ‘fearsome’/terrifying cry; not necessarily the deity)
• Rana (battlefield context)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Warfare
• Kshatriya-duty
• Battle-narrative
• Fear-and-fall

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on battlefield psychology—loss of zeal, falling in combat, and the arising of terror.

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

It reflects Rajadharma/Kshatra-dharma indirectly: a ruler’s side must avoid collapse of morale in war, since loss of initiative (udyama) leads to defeat and भय (fear/terror) spreading through the ranks.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is specified here; the key takeaway is narrative imagery (fall in battle, cutting of armour/skin, and a fearsome cry) used to intensify the dharmic lesson about courage and consequence.