Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 104

Devanagari script

अन्तरिक्षे सुराश्चासन् विमानेषु सहस्रशः समहेन्द्रहरिब्रह्मवायुवह्निपुरोगमाः //

Transliteration

antarikṣe surāścāsan vimāneṣu sahasraśaḥ samahendraharibrahmavāyuvahnipurogamāḥ //

Translation

അന്തരീക്ഷത്തിൽ ദേവന്മാർ ആയിരക്കണക്കിന് തങ്ങളുടെ വിമാനങ്ങളിൽ നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു; അവരുടെ മുൻപിൽ ഇന്ദ്രൻ, ഹരി (വിഷ്ണു), ബ്രഹ്മാവ്, വായു, വഹ്നി (അഗ്നി) എന്നിവർ നേതൃത്വം വഹിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• antarikṣe: in the atmosphere/mid-sky

• surāḥ: the gods

• ca: and

• āsan: were/stood

• vimāneṣu: in vimānas (celestial aerial chariots)

• sahasraśaḥ: by the thousands

• sa-mahendra: together with Mahendra (Indra)

• hari: Hari (Viṣṇu)

• brahma: Brahmā

• vāyu: Vāyu (wind-god)

• vahni: Vahni/Agni (fire-god)

• purogamāḥ: going in front/leading the procession

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the scene within the Matsya Purana’s Manu–Matsya narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Devas (Surāḥ)
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma
• Vayu
• Agni (Vahni)
• Vimanas

Tags

• Pralaya
• Devas
• Vimanas
• CosmicOrder
• PuranicNarrative

FAQs

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

It portrays a cosmic crisis-like setting where the devas gather in the mid-sky in vimānas, suggesting an extraordinary, world-affecting event (often associated with pralaya episodes) that draws the gods into active witness and oversight.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic idea that righteous order is supervised by higher powers; for kings and householders, this implies living by dharma with accountability to cosmic governance rather than mere human authority.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vāstu or ritual procedure is prescribed here; however, the mention of vimānas is a key Purāṇic term later echoed in temple vocabulary (e.g., vimāna as a superstructure), useful for readers researching Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips and sacred architecture terminology.