Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 127

Devanagari script

ततः खड्गेन च शिरश् छेत्तुमैच्छदमर्षणः तस्मिंस्तदन्तरे देवो वरुणो ऽपांपतिर्द्रुतम् //

Transliteration

tataḥ khaḍgena ca śiraś chettumaicchadamarṣaṇaḥ tasmiṃstadantare devo varuṇo 'pāṃpatirdrutam //

Translation

பின்னர் கோபம் பொங்க அவன் வாளால் தலை வெட்ட விரைந்தான்; அதே இடைவெளியில் நீரின் அதிபதியான வருணன் தேவன் விரைவாகத் தலையிட்டான்।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• khaḍgena: with a sword

• ca: and

• śiraḥ: the head

• chettum: to cut off

• aicchat: desired/sought

• amarṣaṇaḥ: the wrathful one/one who cannot endure (in anger)

• tasmin: in that

• tad-antare: in the meantime/within that interval

• devaḥ: the god

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa

• apām-patiḥ: lord of the waters

• drutam: quickly/swiftly

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing events (third-person narrative within the Matsya Purana’s discourse tradition)

Entities Mentioned

• Varuṇa

Tags

• Divine intervention
• Varuṇa
• Conflict
• Protection
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it highlights Varuṇa’s role as apāṃ-pati (lord of waters), a deity often associated with cosmic order and the regulation of waters.

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

It underscores restraint and the prevention of rash violence: even when anger rises, dharma favors timely intervention, de-escalation, and protection from unjust killing.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated; the ritual takeaway is theological—Varuṇa’s swift protective presence, relevant to water-related rites and invocations of apāṃ-pati.