Matsya Purana — Vishnu’s Battle with the Daityas: Astra-Combat, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पर्वताभे गजे भीमे मदस्राविणि दुर्धरे आरुह्याजौ निमिर्दैत्यो हरिं प्रत्युद्ययौ बली //

Transliteration

parvatābhe gaje bhīme madasrāviṇi durdhare āruhyājau nimirdaityo hariṃ pratyudyayau balī //

Translation

மலைபோல் பெரிதும் பயங்கரமும், மதம் சொரியும், போரில் அடக்க இயலாத யானையின் மேல் ஏறி, வலிமைமிக்க தைத்தியன் நிமி, ரணத்தில் ஹரி (விஷ்ணு)வை எதிர்கொள்ள முன்னேறினான்।

Word by Word

• पर्वताभे: mountain-like

• गजे: on/with the elephant

• भीमे: dreadful, fearsome

• मदस्राविणि: dripping rut-fluid (in musth)

• दुर्धरे: difficult to hold back/unyoke, hard to control

• आरुह्य: having mounted

• आजौ: in battle

• निमिः: Nimi

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)

• प्रत्युद्ययौ: went forth against/advanced to meet

• बली: strong, mighty

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) / narrative voice describing the battle scene

Entities Mentioned

• Nimi (Daitya)
• Hari (Vishnu)

Tags

• Daitya-Deva conflict
• Battle narrative
• Vaishnava theology
• Puranic warfare
• Elephant symbolism

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it depicts a martial episode where the Daitya Nimi advances against Hari, emphasizing conflict and divine opposition rather than cosmological dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic ideal that unrighteous aggression (as embodied by a Daitya attacking Hari) invites decisive resistance; for kings, it underscores vigilance against adharma and the need to restrain destructive force—symbolized by the uncontrollable musth-elephant.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is poetic war-imagery (battlefield, mount, musth), not temple-building or rites.