Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

संशयः पुरुषस्येव चित्तं दैत्यस्य तद्रथम् समुत्सृज्य रथं दैत्यः पदातिर्धरणीं गतः //

Transliteration

saṃśayaḥ puruṣasyeva cittaṃ daityasya tadratham samutsṛjya rathaṃ daityaḥ padātirdharaṇīṃ gataḥ //

Translation

Doubt seized the demon’s mind as it does a man’s; abandoning that chariot, the Daitya left it behind and went down to the ground on foot.

Word by Word

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt, indecision

• puruṣasya iva: like that of a man

• cittam: mind, inner thought

• daityasya: of the demon (Daitya)

• tat-ratham: that chariot

• samutsṛjya: having cast off, having abandoned

• ratham: the chariot

• daityaḥ: the demon

• padātiḥ: a foot-soldier, on foot

• dharaṇīm: to the earth/ground

• gataḥ: went, proceeded

Speaker

• Suta (narrator, describing events in the episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya

Tags

• BattleNarrative
• Psychology
• Retreat
• Dharma
• HeroicEpicStyle

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on a battlefield moment where doubt overwhelms a Daitya, leading him to abandon his chariot.

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

It implicitly teaches a dharmic lesson valued in the Matsya Purana: wavering and indecision (saṃśaya) weaken resolve and can cause loss of position—an admonition relevant to kings (steadfast leadership) and householders (firmness in duty).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra, temple architecture, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is purely narrative, highlighting the demon’s abandonment of his chariot and descent to fight or flee on foot.