Shloka 160

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

Devanagari script

रणे विनिहतान्दृष्ट्वा नेमिः स्वान्दानवाधिपः रूपं स्वं तु प्रपद्यन्त ह्य् असुराः सुरधर्षिताः //

Transliteration

raṇe vinihatāndṛṣṭvā nemiḥ svāndānavādhipaḥ rūpaṃ svaṃ tu prapadyanta hy asurāḥ suradharṣitāḥ //

Translation

Seeing his own followers slain in battle, Nemi—the lord of the Dānavas—(then) assumed his own (true) form; and the Asuras, harried by the gods, likewise took to their (proper) forms.

Word by Word

• raṇe: in battle

• vinihatān: slain, killed

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• nemiḥ: Nemi

• svān: his own (people/followers)

• dānava-adhipaḥ: lord/overlord of the Dānavas

• rūpam: form

• svam: his own

• tu: indeed/then

• prapadyanta: they assumed/resorted to/entered

• hi: for/indeed

• asurāḥ: Asuras

• sura-dharṣitāḥ: oppressed/pressed hard/harried by the gods (Devas).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative voice) describing the battle episode (not direct speech of Matsya/Manu in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Nemi
• Dānavas
• Asuras
• Suras (Devas)

Tags

• Asura-Deva battle
• Daitya narratives
• Mythic warfare
• Puranic cosmology
• Manvantara themes

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights the recurring cosmic struggle where Devas restore order by subduing Asuras—an idea that complements Purāṇic cycles of disruption and restoration.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the ethic that leadership is tested in crisis: when forces are defeated or pressured, a ruler (here, the Dānava-lord Nemi) must respond decisively—echoing the Purāṇic ideal that rulers must protect their dependents and uphold order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it is purely martial-narrative, focused on forms assumed by beings under divine pressure.