Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

जघ्ने जनार्दनं चापि परिघेणाग्निवर्चसा विष्णुस्तेन प्रहारेण किंचिदाघूर्णितो ऽभवत् //

Transliteration

jaghne janārdanaṃ cāpi parigheṇāgnivarcasā viṣṇustena prahāreṇa kiṃcidāghūrṇito 'bhavat //

Translation

He struck Janārdana as well with a parigha blazing like fire; by that blow, Viṣṇu was for a moment shaken and slightly reeled.

Word by Word

• जघ्ने (jaghne): struck, smote

• जनार्दनम् (janārdanam): Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• च अपि (ca api): and also

• परिघेण (parigheṇa): with an iron club/bar (parigha)

• अग्निवर्चसा (agnivarcasā): with fire-like radiance, blazing

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ): Viṣṇu

• तेन (tena): by that

• प्रहारेण (prahāreṇa): blow, strike

• किंचित् (kiṃcit): slightly, somewhat

• आघूर्णितः (āghūrṇitaḥ): made to reel, momentarily staggered

• अभवत् (abhavat): became, happened.

Speaker

• Suta (Pauranic narrator) describing the combat (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu
• Janardana
• Parigha (iron club)

Tags

• Battle
• Vishnu
• Daitya conflict
• Puranic narrative
• Heroic episode

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battlefield description, emphasizing divine combat imagery rather than cosmology or pralaya doctrine.

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

Indirectly, it models kṣātra themes—steadfastness under attack and endurance in conflict—values later applied to a king’s duty to remain composed and protect order even when struck by adversity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the key technical element is the weapon-term *parigha* (iron club), used in Purāṇic martial descriptions rather than temple-architecture rules.