Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 40

Devanagari script

ग्रसनस्तु समायान्तम् आजघ्ने गदयोरसि अचिन्तयित्वा तत्कर्म ग्रसनस्यान्तको ऽरिहा //

Transliteration

grasanastu samāyāntam ājaghne gadayorasi acintayitvā tatkarma grasanasyāntako 'rihā //

Translation

ധാവിച്ച് വന്ന ഗ്രസനനെ, ശത്രുനാശകനായ അന്തകൻ ഒരു നിമിഷം പോലും ആലോചിക്കാതെ ഗദയാൽ അവന്റെ നെഞ്ചിൽ അടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ग्रसनः (grasanaḥ): Grasana (a warrior/foe)

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• समायान्तम् (samāyāntam): coming near, advancing

• आजघ्ने (ājaghne): struck, smote

• गदया (gadayā): with a mace

• उरसि (urasi): on the chest

• अचिन्तयित्वा (acintayitvā): without thinking/without hesitation

• तत्कर्म (tat-karma): that act/deed (the attack, the killing)

• ग्रसनस्य (grasanasya): of Grasana

• अन्तकः (antakaḥ): Antaka (also ‘Death’, here a proper name/epithet)

• अरिहा (arihā): slayer of enemies.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) or the Purana’s narrative voice (battle description)

Entities Mentioned

• Grasana
• Antaka

Tags

• Dynasties
• Battle
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Heroic Narrative
• Puranic Warfare

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battlefield moment focused on swift martial action, not cosmology or pralaya doctrine.

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

It reflects the Kshatriya ideal of decisive action in combat—an aspect of royal duty (raja-dharma) when protecting order and defeating hostile forces.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the content is strictly martial narration (a mace-strike in battle).