Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

तमप्रतर्क्यं जनयन्नजय्यं चक्रं पपात ग्रसनस्य कण्ठे द्विधा तु कृत्वा ग्रसनस्य कण्ठं तद्रक्तधारारुणघोरनाभि जगाम भूयो ऽपि जनार्दनस्य पाणिं प्रवृद्धानलतुल्यदीप्ति //

Transliteration

tamapratarkyaṃ janayannajayyaṃ cakraṃ papāta grasanasya kaṇṭhe dvidhā tu kṛtvā grasanasya kaṇṭhaṃ tadraktadhārāruṇaghoranābhi jagāma bhūyo 'pi janārdanasya pāṇiṃ pravṛddhānalatulyadīpti //

Translation

Making itself beyond anticipation and irresistible in force, the discus fell upon Grasana’s throat. Splitting his neck in two, that Sudarśana—its dreadful hub reddened by streaming blood—returned again to Janārdana’s hand, blazing like a greatly kindled fire.

Word by Word

• tam: that (discus)

• apratarkyam: beyond conjecture/uncanny to foresee

• janayan: producing/bringing about

• ajayyam: unconquerable/irresistible

• cakram: discus (Sudarśana)

• papāta: fell/struck down

• grasanasya: of Grasana

• kaṇṭhe: on the throat/neck

• dvidhā: into two parts

• tu: indeed

• kṛtvā: having made/having split

• kaṇṭham: the neck

• tad-rakta-dhārā: with streams of blood

• aruṇa: reddened

• ghora-nābhi: having a terrible hub/navel

• jagāma: went/returned

• bhūyaḥ api: again also

• janārdanasya: of Janārdana (Vishnu)

• pāṇim: to the hand

• pravṛddha-anala-tulya-dīpti: with radiance like a blazing, intensified fire

Speaker

• Suta (Purana-narrator) describing Janardana’s act in the battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Janardana
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Grasana

Tags

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Daitya-vadha
• Puranic warfare
• Divine weapon iconography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it highlights Vishnu’s invincible divine agency through the Sudarśana Chakra, emphasizing irresistible cosmic order rather than dissolution.

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

By portraying swift, decisive removal of a violent threat, it indirectly supports the Matsya Purana’s dharmic ideal that rulers must protect subjects and uphold order (dharma) with firm, proportionate force when necessary.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu or ritual procedure is taught here; the key technical takeaway is iconographic—Sudarśana is depicted as fire-bright and blood-reddened at the hub, a descriptive cue often echoed in Purāṇic visualizations of Vishnu’s weapons.