Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

तदस्त्रमुग्रं दृष्ट्वा तु दानवा युद्धदुर्मदाः चक्रुरस्त्राणि दिव्यानि नानारूपाणि संयुगे //

Transliteration

tadastramugraṃ dṛṣṭvā tu dānavā yuddhadurmadāḥ cakrurastrāṇi divyāni nānārūpāṇi saṃyuge //

Translation

But when the Dānavas—made reckless by the frenzy of battle—beheld that terrible weapon, they, in the thick of combat, unleashed divine missiles of many different forms.

Word by Word

• tad: that

• astram: weapon/missile

• ugraṃ: fierce, terrible

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• tu: indeed/but

• dānavāḥ: the Dānavas (a class of demons/anti-gods)

• yuddha-durmadāḥ: intoxicated with war, battle-maddened

• cakruḥ: they did/made/let loose

• astrāṇi: missiles, weapon-invocations

• divyāni: divine, celestial

• nānā-rūpāṇi: of many forms/varieties

• saṃyuge: in battle, in combat.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle episode

Entities Mentioned

• Dānava
• Divya-astra (celestial weapons)

Tags

• Battle
• Astras
• Dānava
• Divine Weapons
• Puranic Warfare

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a martial escalation where the Dānavas respond to a fierce weapon by deploying multiple divine astras in battle.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic idea that warfare can intensify through retaliation and counter-weapons—implying that rulers should restrain violent escalation and exercise discernment (nīti) when force is used.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated here; the technical focus is on astras (invoked missiles) and the depiction of divine weaponry in a battle context.