Matsya Purana — Description of the Daitya–Dānava War Preparations and Maya’s Divine Chariots, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

ते गदापरिघैरुग्रैः शिलामुसलपाणयः बाहुभिः परिघाकारैस् तर्जयन्ति स्म देवताः //

Transliteration

te gadāparighairugraiḥ śilāmusalapāṇayaḥ bāhubhiḥ parighākārais tarjayanti sma devatāḥ //

Translation

ते उग्र गदा व लोखंडी परिघ घेऊन, हातात शिळा व मुसळ धरून—परिघासारख्या जड भुजांनी—देवतांना धमकावू लागले।

Word by Word

• ते (te): they

• गदा (gadā): mace

• परिघ (parigha): iron club/bar

• उग्रैः (ugraiḥ): fierce, terrible

• शिला (śilā): stone/rock

• मुसल (musala): pestle/club

• पाणयः (pāṇayaḥ): hands (as holders), those having in their hands

• बाहुभिः (bāhubhiḥ): with arms

• परिघाकारैः (parighākāraiḥ): bar-like in form, shaped like clubs

• तर्जयन्ति (tarjayanti): they menace/threaten

• स्म (sma): indeed/then (narrative particle)

• देवताः (devatāḥ): the gods

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing events (narrative voice within Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Devatas

Tags

• Deva-Asura battle
• Weapons
• Threat
• Mythic warfare
• Purana narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmic creation; it is a battlefield-style description emphasizing intimidation and martial force directed at the gods.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the Purāṇic ideal that protection from violent threats is a core duty of rulers (kṣatra-dharma): maintaining security so that dharma and ritual life can continue without fear.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the technical vocabulary here is martial (gadā, parigha, musala, śilā), used to intensify the narrative of conflict.