Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with the Daityas: Astra-Combat, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

ब्राह्ममस्त्रं चकारासौ सर्वास्त्रविनिवारणम् तेन तत्प्रशमं यातं रौद्रास्त्रं लोकघस्मरम् //

Transliteration

brāhmamastraṃ cakārāsau sarvāstravinivāraṇam tena tatpraśamaṃ yātaṃ raudrāstraṃ lokaghasmaram //

Translation

បន្ទាប់មក គាត់បានប្រើ «ព្រហ្មាស្ត្រ» ដែលជាអាវុធទប់ស្កាត់អាវុធទាំងអស់។ ដោយអាវុធនោះ «រោទ្រាស្ត្រ» ដែលលេបលាន់លោក ត្រូវបានបន្ធូរឲ្យស្ងប់ និងរលត់។

Word by Word

• brāhmam astram: the Brahma-astra (Brahmā’s divine missile)

• cakāra: he employed/activated

• asau: that one/he

• sarva-astra-vinivāraṇam: the restrainer/neutralizer of all weapons

• tena: by that (weapon)

• tat-praśamam: its pacification/quelling

• yātam: was attained/was brought about

• raudra-astram: the Raudra-astra (Rudra/Śiva’s fierce missile)

• loka-ghasmaram: world-devouring, consuming the worlds

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the event (likely within a dialogue framework of Matsya Purana narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahma-astra
• Raudra-astra
• Brahmā
• Rudra (Śiva)

Tags

• Astravidya
• Divine weapons
• Conflict resolution
• Cosmic protection
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

It highlights a pralaya-like threat—an unstoppable, world-consuming force (loka-ghasmaram)—and shows that cosmic order is preserved through a higher, restraining power that can pacify such destruction.

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

It implies dharmic restraint: even when powerful means exist, the righteous priority is to prevent harm to the world. A ruler’s duty is to neutralize destructive forces and protect subjects rather than escalate violence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears directly; the ritual takeaway is the Purāṇic principle of śamana (pacification) and vinivāraṇa (restraint), where higher mantric/ritual authority is used to avert catastrophic outcomes.