Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with the Daityas: Astra-Combat, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

तस्यासन्दानवा रौद्रा गजस्य पदरक्षिणः सप्तविंशतिसाहस्राः किरीटकवचोज्ज्वलाः //

Transliteration

tasyāsandānavā raudrā gajasya padarakṣiṇaḥ saptaviṃśatisāhasrāḥ kirīṭakavacojjvalāḥ //

Translation

അവന്റെ രൗദ്ര അനുചരർ—ആനയുടെ പാദങ്ങളെ കാക്കുന്നവർ—ഇരുപത്തേഴായിരം പേർ ആയിരുന്നു; കിരീടവും കവചവും കൊണ്ട് അവർ ദീപ്തിമാന്മാരായി തിളങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him (his)

• āsandānavāḥ: attendants/retainers (those stationed close-by, personal guards)

• raudrāḥ: fierce, formidable

• gajasya: of the elephant

• pada-rakṣiṇaḥ: foot-guards, those who protect (at) the feet

• saptaviṃśati-sāhasrāḥ: twenty-seven thousand

• kirīṭa-kavaca-ujjvalāḥ: resplendent with crowns/helmets and cuirasses/armor

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) / Pauranic narrator (contextual attribution; verse is descriptive rather than dialogic)

Entities Mentioned

• Gaja (war elephant)
• Padarakṣin (elephant-foot guards)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Ancient warfare
• Royal army
• Elephants
• Protective retinue

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a military description, focusing on the scale and armor of elephant-guards rather than cosmology or pralaya.

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

It aligns with Rajadharma themes by highlighting organized protection and disciplined military retinues—implying a king’s duty to maintain trained, well-equipped forces for security.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual instruction appears; the key takeaway is logistical—specialized guards stationed at war elephants’ feet, indicating structured battlefield roles.