Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

एकेन महिषं क्रुद्धो विव्याधोरसि पत्त्रिणा जम्भं द्वादशभिस्तीक्ष्णैः सर्वांश्चैकैकशो ऽष्टभिः //

Transliteration

ekena mahiṣaṃ kruddho vivyādhorasi pattriṇā jambhaṃ dvādaśabhistīkṣṇaiḥ sarvāṃścaikaikaśo 'ṣṭabhiḥ //

Translation

Enraged, he pierced Mahiṣa in the chest with a single feathered arrow; Jambha he struck with twelve sharp arrows, and all the others, one by one, with eight each.

Word by Word

• ekena: with one

• mahiṣam: (the demon) Mahiṣa

• kruddhaḥ: enraged

• vivyādha: pierced, wounded

• urasi: in the chest

• pattriṇā: with a feathered arrow

• jambham: (the demon) Jambha

• dvādaśabhiḥ: with twelve

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp, keen

• sarvān: all (the rest)

• ca: and

• eka-ekaśaḥ: one by one, individually

• aṣṭabhiḥ: with eight (arrows)

• (iti): thus (implied).

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta-style narration; specific speaker not explicit in the verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Mahiṣa
• Jambha

Tags

• Asura-battle
• Archery
• Heroic narrative
• Puranic warfare
• Matsya Purana episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmology; it is a battlefield description emphasizing decisive martial action against Asura figures.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal praised in Purāṇic ethics: protecting order (dharma) through disciplined valor and measured force against aggressors.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated here; the verse is purely martial and contains no Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedural detail.