Shloka 35

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with Mathana

Devanagari script

तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वा दितिजास्तु सर्वे जगर्जुरुच्चैः कृतसिंहनादाः धनूंषि चास्फोट्य सुराभिघातैर् व्यदारयन्भूमिमपि प्रचण्डाः वासांसि चैवादुधुवुः परे तु दध्मुश्च शङ्खानकगोमुखौघान् //

Transliteration

tatkarma dṛṣṭvā ditijāstu sarve jagarjuruccaiḥ kṛtasiṃhanādāḥ dhanūṃṣi cāsphoṭya surābhighātair vyadārayanbhūmimapi pracaṇḍāḥ vāsāṃsi caivādudhuvuḥ pare tu dadhmuśca śaṅkhānakagomukhaughān //

Translation

Seeing that deed, all the sons of Diti roared aloud, raising lion-like battle-cries. Snapping their bows, and raging with blows meant for the gods, those fierce ones seemed to rend even the earth. Others shook out their garments, and they also blew hosts of conches, and the war-horns called ānaka and gomukha.

Word by Word

• tat-karma: that act/deed

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• ditijāḥ: sons of Diti (Daityas)

• tu: indeed

• sarve: all

• jagarjuḥ: roared

• uccaiḥ: loudly

• kṛta-siṃha-nādāḥ: making lion-roars (lion-like shouts)

• dhanūṃṣi: bows

• ca: and

• āsphoṭya: snapping/twang-ing

• sura-abhighātaiḥ: with strikes/assaults against the gods

• vyadārayan: they tore/rent

• bhūmim: the earth

• api: even

• pracaṇḍāḥ: exceedingly fierce

• vāsāṃsi: garments/robes

• ca eva: and indeed

• ādudhuvuḥ: they shook/flung about

• pare: others

• tu: moreover

• dadhmuḥ: blew

• ca: and

• śaṅkhān: conches

• ānaka: kettle-drums/war-drums (ānaka)

• gomukha-aughān: multitudes of gomukha horns (cow-mouth-shaped trumpets)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative description within the Matsya Purana’s war episode; not direct dialogue)

Entities Mentioned

• Ditija (Daityas)
• Sura (Devas)

Tags

• Deva-Asura War
• Daitya Roar
• Battle Instruments
• Puranic Warfare
• Martial Omens

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya; it depicts martial escalation in a Deva–Asura conflict, emphasizing sound (roars, conches, horns) and violent intent rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic idea that war requires clear signals, discipline, and preparedness (bows readied, instruments sounded). For kings, it hints at organized mobilization and morale-building; for householders, it serves as a cautionary image of uncontrolled rage and aggression.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the blowing of śaṅkha (conch) and war-instruments (ānaka, gomukha) marks proclamation and commencement—sounds used in public rites and royal ceremonies; there is no Vāstu/temple-building rule in this specific verse.