Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

पतिते तु गजे तस्मिन् सिंहनादो महानभूत् सर्वतः सुरसैन्यानां गजबृंहितबृंहितैः //

Transliteration

patite tu gaje tasmin siṃhanādo mahānabhūt sarvataḥ surasainyānāṃ gajabṛṃhitabṛṃhitaiḥ //

Translation

But when that elephant fell, a mighty lion-roar arose everywhere among the armies of the gods, resounding with repeated trumpeting cries of elephants.

Word by Word

• पतिते: when (it) had fallen

• तु: indeed/then

• गजे: the elephant

• तस्मिन्: that (one), in that case

• सिंहनादः: lion-roar, triumphant roar

• महान्: great, mighty

• अभूत्: arose, came to be

• सर्वतः: on all sides, everywhere

• सुरसैन्यानाम्: of the armies of the gods (Devas)

• गजबृंहित: elephant-trumpeting

• बृंहितैः: with trumpets/cries (instrumental), with loud calls

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Purana narrator describing the scene

Entities Mentioned

• Devas (sura-sainyāḥ)
• Elephant (gaja)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Battlefield imagery
• Martial triumph
• Puranic narrative
• Sound symbolism

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it is a battlefield vignette focusing on the surge of sound and morale when a key elephant falls.

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

Indirectly, it reflects a kshatriya-world ethic found across the Matsya Purana: victory and defeat affect collective morale, and disciplined forces respond as a coordinated body—an implied lesson in leadership and organized command.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is literary—using lion-roar and elephant-trumpeting as conventional epic markers of triumph and battlefield momentum.