Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 52

Devanagari script

हृदि विव्याध बाणानां सहस्रेणाग्निवर्चसाम् सारथिं च शतेनाजौ ध्वजं दशभिरेव च //

Transliteration

hṛdi vivyādha bāṇānāṃ sahasreṇāgnivarcasām sārathiṃ ca śatenājau dhvajaṃ daśabhireva ca //

Translation

ಅಗ್ನಿಯಂತೆ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸುವ ಸಾವಿರ ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಅವನು ಹೃದಯವನ್ನು ಭೇದಿಸಿದನು; ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರಥಿಯನ್ನು ನೂರು ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ, ಧ್ವಜವನ್ನು ಕೇವಲ ಹತ್ತು ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಹೊಡೆದನು.

Word by Word

• हृदि (hṛdi): in the heart

• विव्याध (vivyādha): pierced, struck

• बाणानाम् (bāṇānām): of arrows

• सहस्रेण (sahasreṇa): with a thousand

• अग्निवर्चसाम् (agnivarcasām): having the radiance of fire, fire-bright

• सारथिम् (sārathim): the charioteer

• च (ca): and

• शतेन (śatena): with a hundred

• आजौ (ājau): in battle

• ध्वजम् (dhvajam): the banner/standard

• दशभिः (daśabhiḥ): with ten

• एव (eva): indeed/only

• च (ca): and

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) or the primary storyteller of the Matsya Purana’s battle-episode (exact interlocutors not explicit in this single verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Charioteer (Sārathi)
• Banner/Standard (Dhvaja)

Tags

• Battle
• Kshatriya
• Archery
• Heroic narrative
• Puranic warfare

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a battlefield description emphasizing force, precision, and the dramatic style typical of Purana war-narratives.

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

It aligns most closely with Kshatriya/royal duty (rājadharma) in the sense of martial valor and skill in combat, highlighting disciplined use of weapons rather than household ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-architecture, or ritual procedure is indicated here; the imagery is strictly martial (arrows, charioteer, banner) within a combat scene.