Shloka 121

Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A...

Devanagari script

सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत् कुजम्भः कर्म तद्दृष्ट्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य संयुगे //

Transliteration

sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍādapātayat kujambhaḥ karma taddṛṣṭvā rākṣasendrasya saṃyuge //

Translation

And with a sharp arrow (bhalla) he struck down his charioteer, toppling him from the chariot-seat. Seeing that deed in the battle of the lord of the Rakshasas, Kujambha responded accordingly.

Word by Word

• सारथिम्: charioteer

• च: and

• अस्य: of him / his

• भल्लेन: with a bhalla-arrow (a sharp, broad-headed shaft)

• रथ-नीडात्: from the chariot-seat / chariot-nest (driver’s position)

• अपातयत्: caused to fall, struck down

• कुजम्भः: Kujambha (proper name)

• कर्म: deed, act

• तत्: that

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• राक्षस-इन्द्रस्य: of the king/lord of the Rakshasas

• संयुगे: in battle, in combat

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battlefield episode (third-person narration within the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Kujambha
• Rakshasendra (Rakshasa king)
• Sarathi (charioteer)

Tags

• Battle
• Rakshasa-war
• Heroic narrative
• Archery
• Kshatriya ethos

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a martial scene focused on battlefield action and the turning of combat through disabling a chariot by felling the charioteer.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Kshatriya sphere of dharma—warfare skill, tactical striking, and the narrative ideal of decisive action in conflict—rather than household duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-architecture, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the only technical imagery is the chariot-seat (ratha-nīḍa) within a war description.