Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

स तेन विद्धो व्यथितो बभूव दैत्येश्वरो विस्रुतशोणितौघः ततो ऽस्य किंचिच् चलितस्य धैर्याद् उवाच शङ्खाम्बुजशार्ङ्गपाणिः //

Transliteration

sa tena viddho vyathito babhūva daityeśvaro visrutaśoṇitaughaḥ tato 'sya kiṃcic calitasya dhairyād uvāca śaṅkhāmbujaśārṅgapāṇiḥ //

Translation

Pierced by that blow, the lord of the Daityas was pained, as torrents of blood streamed forth. Then, seeing his courage falter slightly, the Bearer of the conch, lotus, and Śārṅga bow spoke to him.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• तेन (tena): by that (weapon/blow)

• विद्धः (viddhaḥ): pierced, struck

• व्यथितः (vyathitaḥ): distressed, pained

• बभूव (babhūva): became

• दैत्येश्वरः (daityeśvaraḥ): lord of the Daityas (demon-king)

• विस्रुत-शोणित-ओघः (visruta-śoṇita-oghaḥ): with a flood/torrent of blood flowing out

• ततः (tataḥ): then

• अस्य (asya): of him

• किंचित् (kiṃcit): slightly, somewhat

• चलितस्य (calitasya): wavering, shaken

• धैर्यात् (dhairyāt): in courage/steadfastness

• उवाच (uvāca): spoke

• शङ्ख-अम्बुज-शार्ङ्ग-पाणिः (śaṅkha-ambuja-śārṅga-pāṇiḥ): he whose hands bear the conch, lotus, and Śārṅga (Vishnu).

Speaker

• Śaṅkhāmbujaśārṅgapāṇi (Lord Vishnu, implied to speak next)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya (Daityeśvara)
• Vishnu (Śaṅkhāmbujaśārṅgapāṇi)
• Śārṅga
• Śaṅkha
• Ambuja (Padma)

Tags

• Vishnu
• Daitya-vadha
• Battle narrative
• Puranic warfare
• Iconography

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it depicts a combat moment where a Daitya-lord is wounded and Vishnu (identified by conch, lotus, and Śārṅga) prepares to address him.

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

Indirectly, it highlights steadiness (dhairya) under crisis: the Daitya’s courage wavers, and the narrative frames composure and moral instruction as following force—an ethical pattern often applied in Purāṇic teaching about righteous governance and self-control.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Architecturally, the key relevance is iconographic: Vishnu is marked by the conch (śaṅkha), lotus (padma/ambuja), and Śārṅga bow—attributes used in pratिमा-lakṣaṇa (image-identification) for correct temple imagery and ritual visualization.