Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

स सुरान्कोपरक्ताक्षो धनुष्यारोप्य सायकम् तिष्ठतेत्यब्रवीत्तावत् सारथिं चाप्यचोदयत् //

Transliteration

sa surānkoparaktākṣo dhanuṣyāropya sāyakam tiṣṭhatetyabravīttāvat sārathiṃ cāpyacodayat //

Translation

With eyes reddened in wrath at the gods, he set an arrow upon his bow and cried, “Stand!”—and at once he also urged on his charioteer.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• सुरान् (surān): the gods

• कोप-रक्त-अक्षः (kopa-rakta-akṣaḥ): whose eyes were reddened with anger

• धनुषि (dhanuṣi): on the bow

• आरोप्य (āropya): having set/placed

• सायकम् (sāyakam): the arrow

• तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha): stand/stop

• इति (iti): thus

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): he said

• तावत् (tāvat): then/at that very moment

• सारथिम् (sārathim): the charioteer

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• अचोदयत् (acodayat): he urged/commanded (to drive on).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration; likely Sūta relaying the account)

Entities Mentioned

• Suras (the gods)
• Charioteer (Sārathi)

Tags

• Battle
• Wrath
• Divine conflict
• Chariot warfare
• Purāṇic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmology; it depicts a martial moment—an enraged figure confronting the gods and issuing commands in battle.

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

It reflects the kṣatriya/battlefield ethos found in Purāṇic narratives: decisiveness, command over one’s chariot-team, and readiness to confront powerful opponents—though the verse itself is descriptive rather than prescriptive.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the imagery is purely martial (bow, arrow, command to halt, and urging the charioteer).