Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

ततः क्रोधविवृत्ताक्षो गदां जग्राह माधवः मथनं सरथं रोषान् निष्पिपेषाथ रोषतः //

Transliteration

tataḥ krodhavivṛttākṣo gadāṃ jagrāha mādhavaḥ mathanaṃ sarathaṃ roṣān niṣpipeṣātha roṣataḥ //

Translation

Then Mādhava, his eyes widened with anger, seized his mace; and in fury he crushed Mathana together with his chariot—indeed, out of wrath.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• krodha-vivṛtta-akṣaḥ: whose eyes were opened/widened by anger

• gadām: mace

• jagrāha: seized/took up

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

• mathanam: Mathana (proper name, the foe)

• sa-ratham: along with the chariot

• roṣāt: from anger/in fury

• niṣpipeṣa: crushed/pulverized

• atha: then/thereupon

• roṣataḥ: in wrath/through anger

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the event (third-person narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Mādhava (Vishnu/Krishna)
• Mathana
• Gadā (mace)
• Ratha (chariot)

Tags

• Mādhava
• Battle
• Asura-vadha
• Puranic narrative
• Divine wrath

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it is a martial narrative highlighting divine intervention through Mādhava’s forceful destruction of an enemy.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ideal that adharma and violent oppression are checked by rightful power; for kings, it echoes the duty to restrain aggressors and protect order, though the verse itself is focused on divine combat.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is explicit here; the verse contains no Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure terminology—its key imagery is the gadā (mace) and ratha (chariot) in a battle setting.