Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 132

Devanagari script

तावभिप्रायमालक्ष्य तस्य दैत्यस्य दूषितम् त्यक्त्वा रथपथं भीतौ महिषस्यातिरंहसा //

Transliteration

tāvabhiprāyamālakṣya tasya daityasya dūṣitam tyaktvā rathapathaṃ bhītau mahiṣasyātiraṃhasā //

Translation

ആ ദൂഷിത ദൈത്യന്റെ ദുഷ്ടാഭിപ്രായം തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞ്, അവർ ഇരുവരും ഭയന്ന് രഥപഥം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, മഹിഷത്തിന്റെ അതിവേഗത്തോടെ ഓടിപ്പോയി।

Word by Word

• tāv: those two

• abhiprāyam: intention, design

• ālakṣya: having perceived, noticing

• tasya: of that

• daityasya: of the Daitya (demon, son of Diti)

• dūṣitam: tainted, wicked, corrupted

• tyaktvā: having abandoned

• ratha-patham: the path/track for chariots, the main road

• bhītau: frightened (dual)

• mahiṣasya: of the buffalo

• ati-raṃhasā: with very great swiftness/speed

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing events (probable narrative voice within Matsya Purana’s storytelling frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Mahiṣa (buffalo)

Tags

• Daitya
• Puranic narrative
• Flight
• Conflict
• Speed

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya directly; it depicts a tactical escape scene in a Daitya-related narrative, highlighting danger, perception of intent, and rapid flight.

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

Indirectly, it supports the ethical principle of prudence (nīti): recognizing hostile intent and choosing a safer course rather than persisting on an exposed route—an applied lesson in self-preservation and situational judgment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or ritual rule is taught here; the only technical note is the mention of a ‘ratha-patha’ (chariot-road), a term relevant to routes/paths but used narratively rather than as a planning prescription.