Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 110

Devanagari script

मोहयामास दैत्येन्द्रं जगत्कृत्वा तमोमयम् ततो विफलनेत्राणि दानवानां बलानि तु //

Transliteration

mohayāmāsa daityendraṃ jagatkṛtvā tamomayam tato viphalanetrāṇi dānavānāṃ balāni tu //

Translation

Dia memperdaya raja Daitya, menjadikan seluruh dunia seolah-olah tersusun daripada kegelapan; lalu bala tentera Dānava pun menjadi sia-sia penglihatannya, seakan buta.

Word by Word

• मोहयामास: bewildered, deluded

• दैत्येन्द्रम्: the lord of the Daityas (chief demon)

• जगत्: the world

• कृत्वा: having made, having rendered

• तमोमयम्: consisting of darkness, filled with gloom

• ततः: then, thereafter

• विफल-नेत्राणि: with eyes made futile, sight made ineffective

• दानवानाम्: of the Dānavas

• बलानि: armies, forces, hosts

• तु: indeed, and then (emphatic particle)

Speaker

• Sūta (narratorial voice describing the event)

Entities Mentioned

• Daityendra (lord of the Daityas)
• Dānavas

Tags

• Māyā
• Darkness
• Daitya-Dānava
• Battle
• Divine Power

FAQs

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

It uses cosmic imagery—turning the world into darkness (tamas)—to show divine control over perception, but it is not directly a Pralaya (dissolution) description; it is a tactical, battle-context ‘world-darkening’ delusion.

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

Indirectly, it highlights that victory and security may depend on clarity of perception; for a king, guarding against deception (māyā, misinformation) and maintaining vigilant “sight” (discernment, intelligence) is a key aspect of protecting the realm.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its takeaway is symbolic—darkness and loss of sight represent obstruction of knowledge and orientation, themes that later Vāstu texts counter through light, alignment, and clarity of space.