स रथं चूर्णयामास न ममार च मातलिः । गृहीत्वा पट्टिशं दैत्यो जधानोरसि केशवम्
sa rathaṃ cūrṇayāmāsa na mamāra ca mātaliḥ | gṛhītvā paṭṭiśaṃ daityo jadhānorasi keśavam
उसने रथ को चूर-चूर कर दिया, पर मातलि मरा नहीं; फिर पट्टिश (युद्ध-कुल्हाड़ी) लेकर दैत्य ने केशव के वक्ष पर प्रहार किया।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages
Scene: A demon pulverizes the celestial chariot into dust; Mātali survives amid wreckage; the demon lifts a paṭṭiśa (battle-axe) and strikes Keśava squarely on the chest, sending shock through the divine ranks.
Divine protection preserves dharma’s servants; even when supports collapse, the righteous are upheld for the larger purpose.
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