Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 79

Devanagari script

व्यर्थीकृतां तु तां दृष्ट्वा शरवृष्टिं धनाधिपः शक्तिं जग्राह दुर्धर्षां हेमघण्टाट्टहासिनीम् //

Transliteration

vyarthīkṛtāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā śaravṛṣṭiṃ dhanādhipaḥ śaktiṃ jagrāha durdharṣāṃ hemaghaṇṭāṭṭahāsinīm //

Translation

അമ്പുവർഷം വ്യർത്ഥമായതായി കണ്ട ധനാധിപൻ ദുര്ധർഷമായ ശക്തി (വേൽ) കൈക്കൊണ്ടു—അപ്രതിഹത ബലമുള്ളത്, സ്വർണ്ണഘണ്ടകളുടെ മുഴക്കത്തോടെ പരിഹാസധ്വനി ഉയർത്തുന്നതു।

Word by Word

• vyarthīkṛtām: made futile/neutralized

• tu: but/then

• tām: that

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• śara-vṛṣṭim: a rain/shower of arrows

• dhanādhipaḥ: Dhanādhipa (lord of wealth/king named Dhanādhipa)

• śaktim: a spear/javelin (śakti weapon)

• jagrāha: seized/took up

• durdharṣām: hard to resist/irresistible, formidable

• hema: golden

• ghaṇṭā: bell(s)

• aṭṭa-hāsinīm: loudly laughing/roaring (metaphor for a loud clanging, mocking sound).

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) or the chapter’s narrator (contextual narration of the battle scene)

Entities Mentioned

• Dhanādhipa

Tags

• Battle
• Royal valor
• Weapons
• Heroic narrative
• Matsya Purana episode

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a battlefield description focusing on the failure of an arrow-shower and the taking up of a powerful weapon.

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

It reflects the kṣatriya ethic found throughout Purāṇic literature: when one tactic fails, a ruler-warrior must act decisively and courageously, maintaining resolve in conflict.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the technical focus here is martial—specifically the śakti (javelin/spear) and battlefield sound imagery (golden bells).