Shloka 51

Matsya Purana — Yadu Lineage

Devanagari script

हता देवमनुष्ये स्वे पितृभिश्चैव सर्वशः संपृक्तो दानवैर्वृत्रो घोरो हालाहले हतः //

Transliteration

hatā devamanuṣye sve pitṛbhiścaiva sarvaśaḥ saṃpṛkto dānavairvṛtro ghoro hālāhale hataḥ //

Translation

In that calamity, gods and humans alike were slain, and even the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits) were struck down on every side. The dreadful Vṛtra too—mingled with the Dānavas—was destroyed in the Hālāhala poison.

Word by Word

• hatā: slain/destroyed

• deva-manuṣye: gods and humans

• sve: (in their own ranks / among them)

• pitṛbhiḥ ca eva: and indeed by/along with the Pitṛs (ancestral beings)

• sarvaśaḥ: entirely/on all sides

• saṃpṛktaḥ: mixed/associated/merged

• dānavaiḥ: with the Dānavas (demonic clans)

• vṛtraḥ: Vṛtra (serpent-like asura)

• ghoraḥ: terrible/dreadful

• hālāhale: in/through the Hālāhala poison

• hataḥ: slain/destroyed

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) recounting the episode within the Matsya Purāṇa’s dialogue framework

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Manuṣyas
• Pitṛs
• Dānavas
• Vṛtra
• Hālāhala

Tags

• Deva-Asura war
• Cosmic poison
• Mythic destruction
• Pralaya motifs
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It depicts a dissolution-like catastrophe where even higher classes of beings (Devas and Pitṛs) perish, using the Hālāhala poison as a symbol of cosmic-level destructive force.

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

Indirectly, it underscores the Purāṇic ethic of humility and vigilance: worldly power and lineage are fragile, so rulers and householders should prioritize dharma, protection of dependents, and merit-making acts (dāna, yajña) over arrogance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or temple-rule instruction appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is the Purāṇic emphasis on safeguarding life and purity against ‘poison’ (viṣa) motifs—often addressed through śānti rites and protective observances in broader tradition.