Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

चक्रेण महिषः क्रुद्धो जम्भः शक्त्या महारणे जघ्नुर्नारायणं सर्वे शेषास्तीक्ष्णैश्च मार्गणैः //

Transliteration

cakreṇa mahiṣaḥ kruddho jambhaḥ śaktyā mahāraṇe jaghnurnārāyaṇaṃ sarve śeṣāstīkṣṇaiśca mārgaṇaiḥ //

Translation

In that great battle, the enraged Mahiṣa struck with the cakra, Jambha struck with the śakti (spear), and all the remaining warriors assailed Nārāyaṇa with sharp arrows.

Word by Word

• चक्रेण (cakreṇa): with a discus

• महिषः (mahiṣaḥ): Mahiṣa (a daitya/asura named Mahiṣa)

• क्रुद्धः (kruddhaḥ): enraged

• जम्भः (jambhaḥ): Jambha (a daitya/asura named Jambha)

• शक्त्या (śaktyā): with a spear/javelin

• महारणे (mahāraṇe): in the great battle

• जघ्नुḥ/जघ्नुः (jaghnur): struck/assailed

• नारायणम् (nārāyaṇam): Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• शेषाः (śeṣāḥ): the rest/remaining ones

• तीक्ष्णैः (tīkṣṇaiḥ): sharp

• च (ca): and

• मार्गणैः (mārgaṇaiḥ): with arrows/missiles.

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting the battle within the Matsya Purana’s narration

Entities Mentioned

• Nārāyaṇa
• Mahiṣa
• Jambha

Tags

• Daitya battle
• Vaishnava
• Divine warfare
• Puranic narrative
• Weapons (Ayudha)

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it depicts a martial episode where daityas assault Nārāyaṇa using specific weapons, emphasizing divine conflict rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it models the kṣātra ideal of confronting adversity with courage and preparedness—showing that even in overwhelming opposition, steadfastness and disciplined force (dharma-protecting power) are central themes in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated here; the technical focus is on āyudha (weapons)—cakra, śakti, and mārgaṇa—used in a mythic battle setting.