Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 27

Devanagari script

रथेन त्वरितो गच्छन् नाससादान्तकं रणे समासाद्य यमं युद्धे ग्रसनो भ्राम्य मुद्गरम् //

Transliteration

rathena tvarito gacchan nāsasādāntakaṃ raṇe samāsādya yamaṃ yuddhe grasano bhrāmya mudgaram //

Translation

രഥത്തിൽ വേഗത്തിൽ മുന്നേറിക്കൊണ്ട് അവൻ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ പിന്മാറിയില്ല. സമരത്തിൽ യമനെ സമീപിച്ച്, ഗ്രസനൻ ശത്രുവധാഭിലാഷത്തോടെ മുദ്ഗരം ചുഴറ്റി।

Word by Word

• रथेन: by/with a chariot

• त्वरितः: swiftly, in haste

• गच्छन्: going, advancing

• न: not

• आससाद: (he) fell back/withdrew (lit. did not sink/lose heart)

• अन्तकम्: the Ender, Death

• रणे: in battle

• समासाद्य: having approached/closed in upon

• यमम्: Yama (lord of death)

• युद्धे: in combat

• ग्रसनः: devouring/crushing (i.e., intent on swallowing up the enemy)

• भ्राम्य: whirling, swinging around

• मुद्गरम्: mace/club

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) relaying the Matsya Purana’s genealogical/battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Yama
• Antaka (Death)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Battle
• Heroic-valor
• Puranic narrative
• Weapons (Mudgara)

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya directly; it uses death-imagery (Yama/Antaka) within a battlefield context to heighten the sense of mortal peril and heroic resolve.

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

In the Purāṇic ethic of kingship, it exemplifies kṣātra-dharma—steadfast courage in battle and the duty to confront threats directly rather than retreating in fear.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is taught in this verse; its technical focus is martial—chariot-advance and weapon-action (mudgara).