Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 158

Devanagari script

कालनेमी रुषाविष्टः कृतान्त इव संक्षये कांश्चित्खड्गेन तीक्ष्णेन कांश्चिन् नाराचवृष्टिभिः कांश्चिद्गदाभिर्घोराभिः कांश्चिद्घोरैः परश्वधैः //

Transliteration

kālanemī ruṣāviṣṭaḥ kṛtānta iva saṃkṣaye kāṃścitkhaḍgena tīkṣṇena kāṃścin nārācavṛṣṭibhiḥ kāṃścidgadābhirghorābhiḥ kāṃścidghoraiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ //

Translation

சினங்கொண்ட காலநேமி, ஊழிக்கால எமனைப் போல, சிலரை கூர்மையான வாளாலும், சிலரை இரும்பு அம்பு மழையாலும், சிலரை பயங்கரமான கதாயுதங்களாலும், சிலரை கோரமான கோடாரிகளாலும் தாக்கினான்.

Word by Word

• कालनेमी (kālanemī): Kālanemi (a daitya/āsura)

• रुषा-आविष्टः (ruṣāviṣṭaḥ): possessed/overcome by anger

• कृतान्तः (kṛtāntaḥ): Death, Yama, the End-maker

• इव (iva): like

• संक्षये (saṃkṣaye): in destruction, at the time of ruin

• कांश्चित् (kāṃścit): some (persons/warriors)

• खड्गेन (khaḍgena): with a sword

• तीक्ष्णेन (tīkṣṇena): sharp, keen

• कांश्चिन् (kāṃścin): some

• नाराच-वृष्टिभिः (nārācavṛṣṭibhiḥ): with showers of nārāca arrows (iron/steel-tipped missiles)

• कांश्चित् (kāṃścit): some

• गदाभिः (gadābhiḥ): with maces/clubs

• घोराभिः (ghorābhiḥ): dreadful, fearsome

• कांश्चित् (kāṃścit): some

• घोरैः (ghoraiḥ): terrible

• परश्वधैः (paraśvadhaiḥ): with axes/battle-axes

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the battle (likely within a dialogue frame to sages)

Entities Mentioned

• Kālanemi
• Kṛtānta (Yama/Death)

Tags

• Daitya battle
• Puranic warfare
• Martial imagery
• Dharma-yuddha
• Mythic cosmology

FAQs

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

It uses dissolution-language metaphorically: Kālanemi is compared to Kṛtānta “at the time of destruction” (saṃkṣaya), emphasizing overwhelming, death-like force rather than describing cosmic Pralaya itself.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the Purāṇic ethic that uncontrolled rage (ruṣāviṣṭaḥ) leads to indiscriminate slaughter; by contrast, Matsya Purāṇa’s dharma framework expects rulers and householders to restrain anger and act with discernment and protection of the righteous.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated in this verse; it is a martial passage focused on weapons and battlefield action, not on Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips or ritual/temple-building procedures.