Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

रथाश्वान्सो ऽहनत्क्षिप्रं शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः ततः सुराधिपस्त्वाष्ट्रम् अस्त्रं च समुदीरयत् //

Transliteration

rathāśvānso 'hanatkṣipraṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ tataḥ surādhipastvāṣṭram astraṃ ca samudīrayat //

Translation

He swiftly struck down chariots and horses—by the hundreds and then by the thousands. Then the lord of the gods invoked and set in motion the Tvāṣṭra missile-weapon.

Word by Word

• रथ (ratha): chariot

• अश्व (aśva): horse

• रथाश्वान् (rathāśvān): chariots and horses (as a collective)

• सः (saḥ/so): he

• अहनत् (ahanat): struck/killed/destroyed

• क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram): quickly, swiftly

• शतशः (śataśaḥ): by hundreds

• अथ (atha): then

• सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ): by thousands

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• सुराधिपः (surādhipaḥ): lord of the gods (Indra)

• त्वाष्ट्रम् (tvāṣṭram): belonging to Tvaṣṭṛ, the Tvāṣṭra (weapon)

• अस्त्रम् (astram): missile-weapon, supernatural weapon

• च (ca): and

• समुदीरयत् (samudīrayat): caused to arise, invoked, set in motion

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) relating the episode (likely within the Matsya–Manu discourse framework)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra (Surādhipa)
• Tvaṣṭṛ (Tvāṣṭra astra)

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Divine weapons (Astra)
• Indra
• Puranic warfare
• Matsya Purana narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it depicts a battlefield escalation where Indra responds to massive destruction by deploying a specialized divine weapon (the Tvāṣṭra astra).

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣatriya-ideal of decisive action and calibrated escalation—when ordinary force is insufficient, a ruler (or leader) is expected to employ stronger measures responsibly to restore order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the closest ritual idea is the formal ‘invocation/activation’ of an astra (samudīrayat), implying mantra-governed deployment of power in Puranic tradition.