Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

तानस्त्रान्दानवैर्मुक्तांश् चित्रयोधी जनार्दनः एकैकं शतशश्चक्रे बाणैरग्निशिखोपमैः //

Transliteration

tānastrāndānavairmuktāṃś citrayodhī janārdanaḥ ekaikaṃ śataśaścakre bāṇairagniśikhopamaiḥ //

Translation

Those missiles released by the Dānavas, Janārdana—the wondrous master of battle—countered by turning each one into hundreds, striking them with arrows blazing like tongues of fire.

Word by Word

• tān: those

• astrān: missiles/weapons

• dānavaiḥ: by the Dānavas (demons)

• muktān: released/shot forth

• citra-yodhī: wondrous/skillful warrior (lit. one whose fighting is marvelous)

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

• ekaikam: each one (individually)

• śataśaḥ: into hundreds, in hundreds

• cakre: made/turned (rendered)

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows

• agni-śikhā-upamaiḥ: comparable to flames/tongues of fire

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle (narrative voice)

Entities Mentioned

• Janārdana
• Dānavas

Tags

• Deva-Asura battle
• Divine warfare
• Vishnu epithets
• Astras and banas
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it highlights divine martial power—Janārdana neutralizing demonic missiles through fiery arrows and multiplicative counter-strikes.

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

Indirectly, it models kṣātra-dharma: protecting order by skill, courage, and proportional response to aggression—an idealized template for a ruler’s defense of society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedure is mentioned; the technical focus is on astras (missiles) and bāṇas (arrows) within a battle description.