Shloka 166

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

Devanagari script

देवानां चाभवत्सैन्यं सर्वमेव भयान्वितम् संचरास्त्रं च संशान्तं स्वयमायोधने बभौ //

Transliteration

devānāṃ cābhavatsainyaṃ sarvameva bhayānvitam saṃcarāstraṃ ca saṃśāntaṃ svayamāyodhane babhau //

Translation

And the entire army of the gods became seized with fear; and the moving missiles grew quiet—of themselves the weapons fell still upon the battlefield.

Word by Word

• देवानाम् (devānām): of the gods

• च (ca): and

• अभवत् (abhavat): became

• सैन्यम् (sainyam): army

• सर्वम् (sarvam): all/entire

• एव (eva): indeed

• भयान्वितम् (bhayānvitam): filled with fear, fear-stricken

• संचरास्त्रम् (saṃcarāstram): moving/projectile weapons, missiles in flight

• च (ca): and

• संशान्तम् (saṃśāntam): pacified, stilled, ceased

• स्वयम् (svayam): by itself, of its own accord

• आयोधने (āyodhane): in battle/on the battlefield

• बभौ (babhau): shone/appeared/manifested (here: came to be, was seen).

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) reporting the battle-scene

Entities Mentioned

• Devas

Tags

• Deva–Asura war
• Battlefield omen
• Fear
• Weapons stilled
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; rather, it depicts a war-omen-like moment where fear spreads through the Devas’ forces and even missiles cease, suggesting a sudden, overpowering change of cosmic momentum in battle.

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

By portraying panic and the collapse of martial initiative, the verse implicitly warns that leadership and discipline are crucial in crisis—fear can paralyze an army just as it can destabilize governance or household order if not mastered through steadiness and dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the key takeaway is narrative—an auspicious/inauspicious battlefield sign (weapons falling silent) often used in Purāṇas to indicate an imminent turning point or unseen higher power at work.