Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 140

Devanagari script

रणेच्छां दूरतस्त्यक्त्वा तस्थुस्ते जीवितार्थिनः तत्राब्रवीत्कालनेमिर् दैत्यान्कोपेन दीपितः //

Transliteration

raṇecchāṃ dūratastyaktvā tasthuste jīvitārthinaḥ tatrābravītkālanemir daityānkopena dīpitaḥ //

Translation

യുദ്ധേച്ഛ ദൂരെയാക്കി, ജീവൻ രക്ഷിക്കാനാഗ്രഹിച്ച് അവർ പിന്നോട്ട് നിന്നു. അപ്പോൾ ക്രോധത്തിൽ ദീപ്തനായ കാലനേമി അവിടെ ദൈത്യരോട് പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• रणेच्छाम् (raṇecchām): desire to fight/battle-impulse

• दूरतः (dūrataḥ): from afar, far away

• त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā): having abandoned

• तस्थुः (tasthuḥ): stood still/stood back

• ते (te): they/those

• जीवितार्थिनः (jīvitārthinaḥ): seeking life, desiring to survive

• तत्र (tatra): there

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): said/spoke

• कालनेमिः (kālanemiḥ): Kalanemi (a Daitya/Asura)

• दैत्यान् (daityān): the Daityas

• कोपेन (kopena): with anger

• दीपितः (dīpitaḥ): kindled, inflamed, blazing

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Kālanemi and the Daityas)

Entities Mentioned

• Kālanemi
• Daityas

Tags

• Daityas
• Battle
• Krodha (anger)
• Puranic narrative
• Moral psychology

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it depicts a battlefield moment where fear of death overrides martial resolve, highlighting psychological causes of retreat rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts steadfastness with panic: a king (or any duty-bound person) should not abandon righteous duty out of fear, while also recognizing that uncontrolled anger (krodha) leads to harsh, destabilizing counsel—here embodied by Kālanemi.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-architecture, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; it functions purely as narrative setup for Kālanemi’s admonition or command.