Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 103

Devanagari script

शूराणामभिजातानां भर्तर्यपसृते रणात् मर्तुं संग्रामशिरसि युक्तं तद्भूषणाग्रतः //

Transliteration

śūrāṇāmabhijātānāṃ bhartaryapasṛte raṇāt martuṃ saṃgrāmaśirasi yuktaṃ tadbhūṣaṇāgrataḥ //

Translation

ഉന്നതകുലജന്മമായ ധീരന്മാർക്കു, അവരുടെ സ്വാമി യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ നിന്ന് പിന്മാറുകയാണെങ്കിൽ, സ്വാമിയുടെ ധ്വജചിഹ്നങ്ങളും ആഭരണങ്ങളും സന്നിധിയിൽ സമരത്തിന്റെ അഗ്രഭാഗത്ത് മരണമടയുന്നതുതന്നെ യുക്തമാണ്।

Word by Word

• śūrāṇām: of heroes/brave warriors

• abhijātānām: of the well-born/nobly descended

• bhartari: when the lord/master/king

• apasṛte: has withdrawn/retreated

• raṇāt: from battle

• martum: to die

• saṃgrāma-śirasi: at the head/front of the battle (in the thick of combat)

• yuktam: proper/fitting/right

• tat-bhūṣaṇa-agrataḥ: before his ornaments/insignia/royal emblems (in front of the lord’s marks of honor)

Speaker

• Traditionally framed as instruction in the Matsya Purana’s Rajadharma discourse (voice of the narrator conveying dharma-teaching; commonly transmitted as Matsya/Vishnu’s instruction to Manu in the larger dialogue setting).

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Battle Ethics
• Honor
• Loyalty

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to Rajadharma and emphasizes battlefield honor and the expected conduct of noble warriors.

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

It reflects Kshatriya duty: maintaining honor, loyalty, and steadfastness in battle. Implicitly, it also critiques a leader’s retreat as a moment that tests the moral resolve and reputation of his retainers.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the focus is ethical—martial conduct and the symbolism of royal insignia as the locus of honor.