Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 68

Devanagari script

स तेन शितधारेण धनभर्तुर् महारथम् चिछेद शतशो दैत्यो ह्य् आखुः स्निग्धमिवाम्बरम् //

Transliteration

sa tena śitadhāreṇa dhanabhartur mahāratham cicheda śataśo daityo hy ākhuḥ snigdhamivāmbaram //

Translation

ആ ക്ഷുരധാരമുള്ള ആയുധംകൊണ്ട് ദൈത്യൻ ധനഭർത്തുവിന്റെ മഹാരഥിയെ നൂറുകണക്കിന് ഖണ്ഡങ്ങളാക്കി ഛേദിച്ചു; എലി മിനുസമുള്ള വസ്ത്രം കടിച്ചുകീറുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he

• तेन (tena): with that

• शितधारेण (śitadhāreṇa): with a sharp-edged (weapon/blade)

• धनभर्तुः (dhanabhartuḥ): of Dhanabhartu

• महारथम् (mahāratham): the great chariot-warrior

• चिछेद (ciccheda): cut, severed

• शतशः (śataśaḥ): into hundreds, repeatedly

• दैत्यः (daityaḥ): the Daitya (demon)

• हि (hi): indeed

• आखुः (ākhuḥ): a mouse/rat

• स्निग्धम् (snigdham): smooth, sleek

• इव (iva): like

• अम्बरम् (ambaram): a garment/cloth

Speaker

• Suta (Purana-narrator) describing the battle narrative

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Dhanabhartu
• Mahāratha

Tags

• Dynasties
• Battle
• Daitya
• Heroic narrative
• Itihasa-style episode

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battlefield description, emphasizing martial power and poetic comparison rather than cosmology or Pralaya.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Kshatriya sphere of protection and warfare: the text highlights the intensity of combat that kings and their champions (mahārathas) faced in safeguarding realm and honor.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated; the verse is purely martial imagery (a sharp weapon cutting like a mouse through cloth).