Shloka 154

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

Devanagari script

प्रयत्नविधृतैरश्वैः सितचामरमालिभिः जगद्दीपो ऽथ भगवाञ् जग्राह विततं धनुः //

Transliteration

prayatnavidhṛtairaśvaiḥ sitacāmaramālibhiḥ jagaddīpo 'tha bhagavāñ jagrāha vitataṃ dhanuḥ //

Translation

Then the Blessed Lord—like a lamp for the world—took up his fully strung bow, while the horses were held firmly under control and white yak-tail fans were waved in attendance.

Word by Word

• prayatna: exertion, careful effort

• vidhṛtaiḥ: held/controlled, restrained

• aśvaiḥ: by the horses

• sita: white

• cāmara-mālibhiḥ: by those bearing/waving yak-tail fans (chowries)

• jagad-dīpaḥ: lamp/light of the world (world-illuminator)

• atha: then

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• jagrāha: seized/took up

• vitatam: stretched, strung, extended

• dhanuḥ: bow

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing Bhagavan (Vishnu-like Lord) in a royal/battle setting

Entities Mentioned

• Bhagavan
• Jagaddipa (epithet of the Lord)
• Ashva (horses)
• Chamara (yak-tail fan)

Tags

• Iconography
• Royal Pageantry
• Divine Kingship
• Martial Dharma
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it portrays Bhagavan as “Jagaddīpa” (world-illuminator) taking up a strung bow, emphasizing divine protection and order rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

The imagery of controlled horses and the Lord taking up a bow reflects disciplined governance and readiness to protect dharma—an ideal mirrored in a king’s duty to maintain order and a householder’s duty to uphold self-control and responsibility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, the white cāmara (chowry) is a marker of sovereignty and honor in temple/royal protocol; it signals formal attendance and auspicious service, often echoed in iconographic and ceremonial standards.