Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

पीडयामास गरुडं जम्भस्तीक्ष्णैस्तु सायकैः भुजं तस्याहनद्गाढं शुम्भो भूधरसंनिभः //

Transliteration

pīḍayāmāsa garuḍaṃ jambhastīkṣṇaistu sāyakaiḥ bhujaṃ tasyāhanadgāḍhaṃ śumbho bhūdharasaṃnibhaḥ //

Translation

Jambha tormented Garuḍa with keen arrows; and Śumbha—massive like a mountain—struck him hard upon the arm.

Word by Word

• pīḍayāmāsa: harassed/afflicted

• garuḍam: Garuḍa (Viṣṇu’s eagle-mount)

• jambhaḥ: Jambha (a demon/Daitya)

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp, keen

• tu: and/indeed

• sāyakaiḥ: with arrows

• bhujam: the arm

• tasya: of him (Garuḍa)

• ahanat: struck/hit

• gāḍham: heavily, with force

• śumbhaḥ: Śumbha (a demon/Daitya)

• bhūdhara-saṃnibhaḥ: resembling a mountain

Speaker

• Suta (Purāṇic narrator) / third-person narration within the Matsya Purana

Entities Mentioned

• Garuḍa
• Jambha
• Śumbha

Tags

• Battle
• Daityas
• Garuḍa
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a battlefield description highlighting demonic aggression against Garuḍa.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of steadfastness under attack—an ethic echoed in rājadharma as endurance and courage when facing hostile forces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the only technical imagery is poetic—Śumbha is compared to a mountain (bhūdhara) to convey force and magnitude.