Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 13

Devanagari script

जम्भो रुषा तम् आयान्तं दानवानीकसंवृतः उवाच प्राज्ञो वाक्यं तु यथा स्निग्धेन भाषितम् //

Transliteration

jambho ruṣā tam āyāntaṃ dānavānīkasaṃvṛtaḥ uvāca prājño vākyaṃ tu yathā snigdhena bhāṣitam //

Translation

ક્રોધથી પ્રજ્વલિત જંભ, દાનવસેનાથી ઘેરાયેલો, સામે આવતાં તેને બોલ્યો—જાણે કોઈ પ્રાજ્ઞ પુરુષ સ્નિગ્ધ અને મૃદુ વાણીથી કહે તેમ.

Word by Word

• जम्भः (jambhaḥ): Jambha (a Danava/daitya leader)

• रुषा (ruṣā): with anger, in wrath

• तम् (tam): to him, that person

• आयान्तम् (āyāntam): approaching, coming near

• दानव-आनीक-संवृतः (dānava-ānīka-saṃvṛtaḥ): surrounded/encircled by the Danava host/army

• उवाच (uvāca): said, spoke

• प्राज्ञः (prājñaḥ): wise, prudent (in manner)

• वाक्यम् (vākyam): words, a statement

• तु (tu): indeed, however

• यथा (yathā): as, in the way that

• स्निग्धेन (snigdhena): with gentleness/affectionate tone, smoothly

• भाषितम् (bhāṣitam): spoken, uttered.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narration describing Jambha’s speech)

Entities Mentioned

• Jambha
• Danavas (Dānavas)
• Danava army (Dānava-ānīka)

Tags

• Danava episode
• Conflict
• Speech ethics
• Royal-genealogy narrative
• Purāṇic storytelling

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya directly; it focuses on a Danava leader’s conduct in a tense encounter—highlighting narrative ethics rather than cosmology.

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

It illustrates a key dharmic ideal used in royal and household ethics: even when anger arises, one should speak with measured, conciliatory words—an element of self-control and diplomacy praised in Purāṇic instruction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; the emphasis is on speech and demeanor within a martial/political setting.