Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

जघ्ने रथस्य मूर्धन्यान् व्याघ्रान्दण्डेन कोपनः स रथो दण्डमथितैर् व्याघ्रैरर्धैर् विकृष्यते //

Transliteration

jaghne rathasya mūrdhanyān vyāghrāndaṇḍena kopanaḥ sa ratho daṇḍamathitair vyāghrairardhair vikṛṣyate //

Translation

Enraged, he struck down with a staff the foremost tigers at the head of the chariot; yet that chariot was dragged away—half-pulled—by the tigers, though they were battered by the blows of the staff.

Word by Word

• जघ्ने: struck down/slew

• रथस्य: of the chariot

• मूर्धन्यान्: foremost/at the front/leading

• व्याघ्रान्: tigers

• दण्डेन: with a staff/rod

• कोपनः: enraged, wrathful

• सः: that/he

• रथः: chariot

• दण्डमथितैः: shaken/crushed/battered by the staff

• व्याघ्रैः: by tigers

• अर्धैः: by halves/partly/halfway

• विकृष्यते: is dragged/pulled away

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the action within the episode (speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Ratha (chariot)
• Vyāghra (tigers)
• Daṇḍa (staff/rod)

Tags

• Combat
• Royal narrative
• Chariot warfare
• Animals
• Epic-style description

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a vivid combat image focusing on force, resistance, and the peril of a chariot being dragged amid battle.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the kṣātra (warrior-kingly) sphere: courage under threat and decisive action in danger—qualities expected of rulers when protecting order, even though no explicit dharma instruction appears here.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is purely narrative and martial, centered on a chariot and the act of striking with a staff.