Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

महिषं पतितं दृष्ट्वा भूमौ प्रोवाच केशवः महिषासुर मत्तस्त्वं वधं नास्त्रैरिहार्हसि //

Transliteration

mahiṣaṃ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhūmau provāca keśavaḥ mahiṣāsura mattastvaṃ vadhaṃ nāstrairihārhasi //

Translation

Seeing Mahiṣa fallen upon the ground, Keśava spoke: “O Mahiṣāsura, you are not fit to be slain by weapons at my hands here.”

Word by Word

• महिषं (mahiṣaṃ): the buffalo (form)

• पतितं (patitaṃ): fallen

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• भूमौ (bhūmau): on the ground

• प्रोवाच (provāca): said, spoke

• केशवः (keśavaḥ): Keśava (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

• महिषासुर (mahiṣāsura): O Mahiṣāsura

• मत्तः (mattaḥ): from me, by me

• त्वं (tvaṃ): you

• वधं (vadhaṃ): killing, slaying

• न (na): not

• अस्त्रैः (astraiḥ): by weapons

• इह (iha): here

• अर्हसि (arhasi): are fit/deserve/are eligible

Speaker

• Keśava (Viṣṇu, the slayer of asuras)

Entities Mentioned

• Keśava
• Mahiṣāsura
• Mahiṣa (buffalo form)

Tags

• Asura-vadha
• Avatara
• Divine combat
• Boons and constraints
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it highlights a battle-ethic motif in Purāṇic storytelling—certain beings cannot be slain by ordinary weapons due to boons or cosmic constraints, requiring a dharma-consistent method.

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

It implies that force must be applied within lawful limits: even when punishing wrongdoing, one should act according to prescribed constraints (maryādā), choosing means that are appropriate rather than merely powerful.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is narrative and ethical, emphasizing the principle of ‘right means’ in confronting adharma.