Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

जघान भिन्दिपालेन शितबाणेन वक्षसि तत्प्रहारमचिन्त्यैव विष्णुस्तस्मिन्महाहवे //

Transliteration

jaghāna bhindipālena śitabāṇena vakṣasi tatprahāramacintyaiva viṣṇustasminmahāhave //

Translation

He struck him on the chest with a bhindipāla and with a keen, sharp arrow; yet in that great battle, Viṣṇu—the inconceivable—regarded that blow as nothing.

Word by Word

• jaghāna: struck/slew

• bhindipālena: with a bhindipāla (a heavy javelin/throwing weapon)

• śitabāṇena: with a sharp arrow

• vakṣasi: on the chest

• tat-prahāram: that blow/that strike

• acintya: inconceivable, beyond thought

• eva: indeed

• viṣṇuḥ: Lord Viṣṇu

• tasmin: in that

• mahāhave: in the great battle

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) / Narrative voice describing the battle

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu

Tags

• Divine battle
• Acintya (inconceivable power)
• Heroic narrative
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it emphasizes Viṣṇu’s acintya (inconceivable) nature—an attribute that, elsewhere in the Purāṇa, underlies his capacity to uphold and reconstitute the cosmos during dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it frames the ideal of steadfastness in adversity: just as Viṣṇu remains unaffected by assault, kings are urged in Purāṇic ethics to remain composed and resolute in संकट (crisis) while protecting dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its key takeaway is theological—Viṣṇu’s invulnerability and acintya-śakti—rather than temple architecture or rites.