Matsya Purana — Description of the Daitya–Dānava War Preparations and Maya’s Divine Chariots, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

हसंस्तिष्ठति दैत्यानां प्रमुखे स महाग्रहः अन्ये हयगतास्तत्र गजस्कन्धगताः परे //

Transliteration

hasaṃstiṣṭhati daityānāṃ pramukhe sa mahāgrahaḥ anye hayagatāstatra gajaskandhagatāḥ pare //

Translation

हसत तो महाग्राहक दैत्यांच्या अग्रभागी उभा होता; तेथे काही जण घोड्यावर स्वार होते, तर काही हत्तीच्या खांद्यावर (पाठीवर) आरूढ होते।

Word by Word

• हसन् (hasan): laughing

• तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati): stands/remains stationed

• दैत्यानाम् (daityānām): of the Daityas (demons/sons of Diti)

• प्रमुखे (pramukhe): at the forefront/in the lead

• सः (saḥ): he

• महाग्रहः (mahāgrahaḥ): the great seizer/grappler (a powerful captor/warrior)

• अन्ये (anye): others

• हयगताः (hayagatāḥ): mounted on horses

• तत्र (tatra): there

• गजस्कन्धगताः (gajaskandhagatāḥ): mounted upon the elephant’s shoulder/back

• परे (pare): others (another group).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the scene (third-person narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityas
• Mahāgraha (a powerful captor/warrior figure)
• Horses
• Elephants

Tags

• Daitya battle
• War mounts
• Puranic warfare
• Army formation
• Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a battlefield narration describing Daitya forces and their mounts.

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

Indirectly, it reflects classical ideals of military organization—frontline leadership, cavalry, and elephant corps—topics often relevant to kingship and statecraft in Puranic narratives.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-architecture, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse focuses on troop positioning and war-mounts.