Matsya Purana — War of Devas and Dānavas: Yama and Kubera Defeated; Kālanemi’s Māyā and the A..., Shloka 96

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वास्त्रं गारुडं दिव्यं बाणं संधाय कार्मुके मुमोच दानवानीके तं बाणं शत्रुदारणम् //

Transliteration

dhyātvāstraṃ gāruḍaṃ divyaṃ bāṇaṃ saṃdhāya kārmuke mumoca dānavānīke taṃ bāṇaṃ śatrudāraṇam //

Translation

เมื่อเพ่งระลึกอาวุธทิพย์คารุฑะแล้ว เขาก็สอดศรเข้ากับคันธนู และปล่อยศรนั้นซึ่งฉีกทำลายศัตรูเข้าสู่กองทัพทานวะ

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा (dhyātvā): having meditated upon / invoked mentally

• अस्त्रं (astraṃ): a missile-weapon, divinely empowered projectile

• गारुडं (gāruḍaṃ): pertaining to Garuḍa, the Garuḍa-astra

• दिव्यं (divyaṃ): divine, celestial

• बाणं (bāṇaṃ): arrow

• संधाय (saṃdhāya): having fixed/placed (on the bow), having fitted

• कार्मुके (kārmuke): on/in the bow

• मुमोच (mumoca): released, discharged

• दानवानीके (dānavānīke): into the army/formation of the Dānavas

• तं (taṃ): that

• बाणं (bāṇaṃ): arrow

• शत्रुदारणम् (śatrudāraṇam): enemy-tearing, foe-shattering

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the battle scene; likely Sūta recounting events)

Entities Mentioned

• Gāruḍa-astra
• Garuḍa
• Dānavas

Tags

• Astras
• Divine Weapons
• Battle Narrative
• Vishnuic Motifs
• Puranic Warfare

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it highlights a battle technique where a divine astra is invoked through mental concentration (dhyāna) and then discharged as an empowered arrow.

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

In the Purāṇic ethic, righteous protection of society can require disciplined force; the verse emphasizes controlled power—invocation, precision, and purpose—rather than impulsive violence.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple rule is stated; the ritual element is the astra-invocation by dhyāna, reflecting the idea that mantric/mental consecration empowers an act before execution.