Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Asuras; Birth of Aurva Fire; Countering Tamasī Māyā through ...

Devanagari script

अपध्वस्ता विसंज्ञाश्च तमसा नीलवर्चसा पेतुस्ते दानवगणाश् छिन्नपक्षा इवाद्रयः //

Transliteration

apadhvastā visaṃjñāśca tamasā nīlavarcasā petuste dānavagaṇāś chinnapakṣā ivādrayaḥ //

Translation

Struck down and senseless, shrouded by a dark, blue-tinged gloom, those hosts of Dānavas fell—like mountains whose wings have been cut off.

Word by Word

अपध्वस्ताःdashed down, shattered, struck down

विसंज्ञाःunconscious, senseless

चand

तमसाby darkness, by gloom

नीलवर्चसाhaving blue-hued radiance/appearance, blue-tinged

पेतुःfell (they fell down)

तेthose

दानवगणाःgroups/hosts of Dānavas (demons)

छिन्नपक्षाःwith wings cut off, wingless

इवlike

अद्रयःmountains

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the battle outcome within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue framework

Entities Mentioned

Dānavas

FAQs

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

It does not directly describe Pralaya; it uses the language of darkness (tamas) as a battlefield motif—suggesting overpowering obscuration and collapse rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic that adharma-driven forces ultimately fall; for kings, it supports the ideal explained elsewhere in the Matsya Purana that governance must align with dharma to avoid ruin.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the ‘wingless mountains’ simile is mythic imagery (often tied to the old motif of mountains once having wings) rather than a temple-architecture rule.