Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

प्रकोपाद्रक्तनयनो महिषो दानवेश्वरः प्रत्युद्ययौ हरिं रौद्रः स्वबाहुबलमास्थितः //

Transliteration

prakopādraktanayano mahiṣo dānaveśvaraḥ pratyudyayau hariṃ raudraḥ svabāhubalamāsthitaḥ //

Translation

Blazing with fury, the Dānava overlord Mahiṣa—his eyes reddened—rose up in savage wrath to confront Hari, relying on the strength of his own arms.

Word by Word

prakōpātfrom anger, in fury

rakta-nayanaḥred-eyed, with eyes reddened

mahiṣaḥMahiṣa (the buffalo-demon)

dānava-īśvaraḥlord of the Dānavas (demons)

pratyudyayaurose up against, advanced to oppose

harimHari (Viṣṇu)

raudraḥfierce, terrible, wrathful

sva-bāhu-balamthe power/strength of his own arms

āsthitaḥhaving taken refuge in, relying upon

Speaker

Suta (Purana narrator) describing the battle events

Entities Mentioned

MahiṣaDānavaHari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on a combat episode, portraying demonic rage opposing Hari as a recurring Purāṇic motif of adharma confronting divine order.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts reliance on mere physical power and wrath with the Purāṇic ideal of disciplined strength guided by dharma—implying that rulers should not act from anger but from righteous restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it is purely narrative, describing the demon’s aggressive advance against Hari.