Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with the Daityas: Astra-Combat

Devanagari script

निमिं विव्याध विंशत्या बाणानामग्निवर्चसाम् मथनं दशभिर्बाणैः शुम्भं पञ्चभिरेव च //

Transliteration

nimiṃ vivyādha viṃśatyā bāṇānāmagnivarcasām mathanaṃ daśabhirbāṇaiḥ śumbhaṃ pañcabhireva ca //

Translation

Nimi pierced his foe with twenty arrows blazing like fire; he struck Mathana with ten arrows, and Śumbha with five as well.

Word by Word

• निमिम् (nimiṁ): Nimi

• विव्याध (vivyādha): pierced, wounded

• विंशत्या (viṁśatyā): with twenty

• बाणानाम् (bāṇānām): of arrows / with arrows

• अग्निवर्चसाम् (agni-varcasām): having the radiance of fire, blazing

• मथनम् (mathanaṁ): Mathana (proper name)

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• बाणैः (bāṇaiḥ): arrows

• शुम्भम् (śumbhaṁ): Śumbha (proper name)

• पञ्चभिः (pañcabhir): with five

• एव (eva): indeed, also

• च (ca): and.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting the events (battle description)

Entities Mentioned

• Nimi
• Mathana
• Śumbha

Tags

• Dynasties
• Battle
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Heroic narrative
• Matsya Purana genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it is a straightforward battlefield description highlighting martial prowess within a dynastic narrative.

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

It reflects kṣatriya-dharma themes—valor, strategic combat, and the protection of royal honor—common in Purāṇic accounts of kings and dynasties, though it does not state household duties directly.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the technical focus here is purely martial (numbers of arrows and targets).