Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

ततो व्यावृत्य वदनं महाचलगुहानिभम् ग्रस्तुमैच्छद्रणे दैत्यः स गरुत्मन्तमच्युतम् //

Transliteration

tato vyāvṛtya vadanaṃ mahācalaguhānibham grastumaicchadraṇe daityaḥ sa garutmantamacyutam //

Translation

Then, turning his face—like a cavern in a great mountain—the Daitya, in the midst of battle, sought to swallow Garuḍa and Acyuta (Viṣṇu) together.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• vyāvṛtya: turning/whirling around

• vadanam: face/mouth

• mahā-cala-guhā-nibham: resembling a cave of a great mountain

• grastum: to swallow

• aicchat: desired/sought

• raṇe: in battle

• daityaḥ: the demon (Daitya)

• sa: he

• garutmantaṃ: Garuḍa (the winged one)

• acyutam: Acyuta, the Imperishable (Viṣṇu)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Matsya Purāṇa’s battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Garuḍa (Garutmān)
• Acyuta (Viṣṇu)

Tags

• Daitya battle
• Vishnu epithets
• Garuḍa
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic imagery

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it uses cosmic-scale imagery (a mouth like a mountain-cave) to intensify a battlefield moment where a Daitya attempts to devour Garuḍa and Acyuta.

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

Indirectly, it models the Purāṇic theme that adharma (violent, predatory arrogance) is self-defeating when directed against dharma’s protectors (Viṣṇu/Acyuta); kings are repeatedly urged in the Matsya Purāṇa to restrain such cruelty and uphold righteous conduct in conflict.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual rule is taught here; the phrase “like a cave in a great mountain” is a poetic simile, though it can be cited in literary studies of Purāṇic spatial imagery rather than temple architecture prescriptions.