Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

जज्वलुर्देवसैन्यानि सस्यन्दनगजानि तु दह्यमानेष्वनीकेषु तेजसा सुरसत्तमः //

Transliteration

jajvalurdevasainyāni sasyandanagajāni tu dahyamāneṣvanīkeṣu tejasā surasattamaḥ //

Translation

The armies of the gods—together with their chariots and war-elephants—burst into flame; and as the battle-formations were scorched by tejas, the foremost among the suras blazed with overwhelming radiance.

Word by Word

• जज्वलुः (jajvaluḥ): blazed, flared up

• देवसैन्यानि (deva-sainyāni): the armies of the gods

• स-स्यन्दन-गजानि (sa-syandana-gajāni): together with chariots and elephants

• तु (tu): indeed, and

• दह्यमानेषु (dahyamāneṣu): while being burned/scorched

• अनीकेषु (anīkeṣu): in the battle-arrays, troop-formations

• तेजसा (tejasā): by (his) splendor, fiery energy

• सुरसत्तमः (sura-sattamaḥ): the best/foremost among the gods (a leading deity).

Speaker

• Suta (Puranic narrator) describing the event (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Deva-sena (divine army)
• Surasattama (foremost deity)

Tags

• Divine battle
• Tejas
• Devas
• War imagery
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it depicts battlefield devastation through tejas (fiery divine radiance) that burns troop-formations, a motif of cosmic power expressed in war rather than dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the Puranic idea that victory and destruction in war depend on tejas (power/authority). In dharma terms, it cautions rulers that force can consume entire armies, so warfare must be governed by righteous intent and restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or temple-rule detail appears here; the key technical concept is tejas—often ritually associated with divine brilliance—used as a narrative force that scorches formations.