Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 195

Devanagari script

जग्राहाथ धनुर्दैत्यः शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान् ववर्ष भिषजो मूर्ध्नि संछाद्याकाशगोचरम् //

Transliteration

jagrāhātha dhanurdaityaḥ śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān vavarṣa bhiṣajo mūrdhni saṃchādyākāśagocaram //

Translation

Kemudian daitya itu menggenggam busurnya dan mengambil anak panah laksana ular berbisa; lalu dihujaninya kepala Bhisaja dengan panah, hingga menutupi hamparan langit tempat panah-panah itu melayang.

Word by Word

• jagrāha atha: then seized/took up

• dhanuḥ: bow

• daityaḥ: the demon (Daitya)

• śarān: arrows

• ca: and

• āśīviṣa-upamān: comparable to poisonous snakes (deadly/venomous)

• vavarṣa: showered/rained down

• bhiṣajaḥ: upon Bhisaja (proper name, lit. ‘the physician/healer’)

• mūrdhni: on the head

• saṃchādya: covering/obscuring

• ākāśa-gocaram: the sky/air-space (the region of movement/flight).

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing the battle events (third-person narration within Matsya Purana).

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Bhisaja

Tags

• Battle
• Daityas
• Archery
• Puranic warfare
• Aerial combat

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a martial description emphasizing overwhelming force—arrows compared to venomous serpents that darken the sky.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal of kṣātra themes—strategy, readiness, and the consequences of violence—often used as narrative contrast to dharma-based rule and restraint.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is on warfare poetics (serpent-like arrows, sky-obscuring missile-shower).