Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P..., Shloka 102

Devanagari script

तुरंगमातंगबलौघसंकुला सितातपत्रध्वजराजिशालिनी चमूश्च सा दुर्जयपत्त्रिसंतता विभाति नानायुधयोधदुस्तरा //

Transliteration

turaṃgamātaṃgabalaughasaṃkulā sitātapatradhvajarājiśālinī camūśca sā durjayapattrisaṃtatā vibhāti nānāyudhayodhadustarā //

Translation

ആ സേന കുതിരസേനയും ഗജസേനയും മഹാസമൂഹങ്ങളായി നിറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; വെളുത്ത കുടകളും ധ്വജപംക്തികളും അതിനെ ശോഭിപ്പിച്ചു. അത് അജേയമായ, ദുർജേയമായ യുദ്ധവ്യൂഹമായി പ്രകാശിച്ചു—നാനാവിധ ആയുധധാരികളായ യോദ്ധാക്കളാൽ കുത്തിനിറഞ്ഞ, ജയിക്കാൻ ദുഷ്കരമായത്।

Word by Word

• turaṅgama: horse/cavalry

• mātaṅga: elephant

• bala-ogha: flood/mass of troops

• saṅkulā: densely filled

• sita: white

• ātapatra: parasol

• dhvaja: banner/flag

• rāji: row/line

• śālinī: splendid/adorned with

• camūḥ: army

• sā: that

• durjaya: hard to conquer

• pattri-saṃtatā: extended battle-array/formation (lit. ‘spread of wings/feathers’, used for array)

• vibhāti: shines/appears

• nānā: various

• āyudha: weapons

• yodha: warriors

• dustarā: difficult to cross/overcome.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrative description within the Matsya Purana’s royal/political episode)

Entities Mentioned

• cavalry (turaṅgama-bala)
• elephants (mātaṅga-bala)
• royal parasols (ātapatra)
• banners/flags (dhvaja)
• warriors (yodha)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Army
• Battle-formation
• Royal insignia
• Warfare

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a martial description emphasizing royal power through a vast, well-marked army formation.

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

It reflects Rajadharma: a king is expected to maintain organized forces (cavalry, elephants, weapon-bearers) and visible standards (parasols, banners) to protect the realm and deter enemies.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-ritual rule is stated; the key significance is royal insignia (white parasols, banners) used ceremonially to signal sovereignty and order in public processions and war.