Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — The Slaying of Tāraka: Skanda’s Śakti and the Victory of the Devas

Devanagari script

कालनेमिमुखा दैत्याः संरम्भाद्भ्रान्तचेतसः स्वे स्वे स्वनीकेषु तदा त्वराविस्मितचेतसः योधा धावत गृहीत योजयध्वं वरूथिनीम् //

Transliteration

kālanemimukhā daityāḥ saṃrambhādbhrāntacetasaḥ sve sve svanīkeṣu tadā tvarāvismitacetasaḥ yodhā dhāvata gṛhīta yojayadhvaṃ varūthinīm //

Translation

Then the Daityas led by Kālanemi—minds thrown into confusion by wrath and agitation—rushed back to their own divisions. In hurried astonishment they cried, “Warriors, run! Seize your arms and harness the battle-array (the marching host)!”

Word by Word

• कालनेमिमुखाः (kālanemi-mukhāḥ): led by Kālanemi

• दैत्याः (daityāḥ): Daityas/demons

• संरम्भात् (saṃrambhāt): from violent agitation/wrath

• भ्रान्त-चेतसः (bhrānta-cetasaḥ): with bewildered minds

• स्वे स्वे (sve sve): each to his own

• स्व-नीकेषु (sva-nīkeṣu): in their own corps/divisions

• तदा (tadā): then

• त्वरा (tvarā): haste

• विस्मित-चेतसः (vismita-cetasaḥ): with astonished minds

• योधाः (yodhāḥ): O warriors / warriors

• धावत (dhāvata): run, hurry

• गृहीत (gṛhīta): seize, take up

• योजयध्वम् (yojayadhvam): yoke, arrange, harness, marshal

• वरूथिनीम् (varūthinīm): the army/host, battle-array, marching formation

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Matsya Purana’s battle narration; traditionally Sūta conveying the account)

Entities Mentioned

• Kālanemi
• Daityas

Tags

• Daitya warfare
• Battle formations
• Puranic narrative
• Mobilization
• Asura episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a wartime mobilization where Daityas, agitated by anger, rush to assemble and arrange their army formation (varūthinī).

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

Indirectly, it illustrates the strategic principle of quickly organizing one’s forces into clear divisions and formations—an idea echoed in broader Rajadharma discussions on discipline, command, and preparedness, though the verse itself is a battlefield command rather than an ethical injunction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical term of note is varūthinī, indicating a marshalled host/battle-array—useful for interpreting ancient military organization rather than temple architecture.