Shloka 137

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

Devanagari script

न शेकुश्चलितुं पद्भ्यां नास्त्राण्यादातुमेव च महाहिमनिपातेन शस्त्रैश्चन्द्रप्रचोदितैः //

Transliteration

na śekuścalituṃ padbhyāṃ nāstrāṇyādātumeva ca mahāhimanipātena śastraiścandrapracoditaiḥ //

Translation

They were unable to move their feet, nor could they even take up their weapons, for a great fall of ice—set in motion by moon-driven missiles—had struck them down.

Word by Word

• na: not

• śekuḥ: were able

• calitum: to move

• padbhyām: with (their) feet/from the feet

• na: not

• astrāṇi: weapons/missiles

• ādātum: to seize/take up

• eva: even/indeed

• ca: and

• mahā: great

• hima: ice/snow

• nipātena: by the falling/downpour

• śastraiḥ: by weapons/missiles

• candra: the Moon

• pracoditaiḥ: impelled/activated/driven

Speaker

• Suta (narratorial voice continuing the Purana’s battle description)

Entities Mentioned

• Candra (Moon)

Tags

• Divine weapons
• Astra
• Battle narrative
• Puranic warfare
• Mythic cosmology

FAQs

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

It does not describe cosmic Pralaya directly; instead, it depicts an astra’s localized, catastrophic effect—an ice-fall that immobilizes warriors—showing how Puranic forces can mimic nature’s extremes without being universal dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it underscores the limits of human effort before overwhelming forces; in Rajadharma terms, it implies that strategy, preparedness, and reliance on righteous counsel matter, because mere physical valor can be neutralized by superior (divinely empowered) weaponry.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-ritual rule is stated in this verse; its technical focus is astravidyā (knowledge of missiles), especially the motif of candra-pracodita (moon-driven) weapons producing hima-nipāta (ice-fall).