Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

परिघेण निमिर्दैत्यो मथनो मुद्गरेण तु शुम्भः शूलेन तीक्ष्णेन प्रासेन ग्रसनस्तथा //

Transliteration

parigheṇa nimirdaityo mathano mudgareṇa tu śumbhaḥ śūlena tīkṣṇena prāsena grasanastathā //

Translation

The Daitya Nimi was struck with an iron club (parigha); Mathana with a mace (mudgara); Śumbha with a sharp śūla; and likewise Grasana with a prāsa, a javelin.

Word by Word

• परिघेण: with an iron club/bar

• निमिः: Nimi (a Daitya/Asura named Nimi)

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon)

• मथनः: Mathana (name of an Asura)

• मुद्गरेण: with a mace/hammer-like club

• तु: and/indeed

• शुम्भः: Śumbha (Asura named Śumbha)

• शूलेन: with a śūla (spear-lance/trident-like weapon)

• तीक्ष्णेन: sharp, keen

• प्रासेन: with a prāsa (javelin/spear)

• ग्रसनः: Grasana (name of an Asura)

• तथा: likewise/also

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battle sequence (martial catalogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Nimi (Daitya)
• Mathana
• Śumbha
• Grasana

Tags

• Devasura battle
• Martial weapons
• Asuras
• Purana narrative
• War catalogue

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battle-catalogue line listing Asuras and the specific weapons used against them, not a cosmology or pralaya passage.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of kṣātra-dharma (the warrior-king’s duty): protecting order by confronting violent forces; however, this specific verse is descriptive rather than prescriptive.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical content is martial—naming weapons (parigha, mudgara, śūla, prāsa) used in combat.