Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Inquiry into Taraka’s Slaying and the Prelude to Guha

Devanagari script

स सप्तदिवसो बालो निजघ्ने तारकासुरम् एवं श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं तम् ऊचुर् ऋषिसत्तमाः //

Transliteration

sa saptadivaso bālo nijaghne tārakāsuram evaṃ śrutvā tato vākyaṃ tam ūcur ṛṣisattamāḥ //

Translation

That child, only seven days old, slew Tārakāsura. Hearing this account, the foremost sages then addressed him with these words.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he/that one

• सप्त-दिवसः (sapta-divasaḥ): seven days (old)

• बालः (bālaḥ): a child

• निजघ्ने (nijaghne): slew, struck down

• तारक-असुरम् (tāraka-asuram): the demon Tāraka

• एवम् (evaṁ): thus

• श्रुत्वा (śrutvā): having heard

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereupon

• वाक्यम् (vākyaṁ): speech, statement, account

• तम् (tam): to him

• ऊचुः (ūcuḥ): said/spoke

• ऋषि-सत्तमाः (ṛṣi-sattamāḥ): the best of sages

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta conveying the narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Tārakāsura
• Seven-day-old child (Kumāra/Skanda implied)
• Ṛṣis (sages)

Tags

• Skanda
• Devasura-war
• Puranic-legend
• Divine-valor
• Sages

FAQs

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

Nothing directly about pralaya is stated here; the verse highlights divine intervention in cosmic order through the sudden defeat of a major asura, a theme that indirectly supports dharmic stability rather than dissolution.

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

By presenting the swift removal of a destructive force (Tāraka) and the sages’ authoritative speech, the verse supports a core Purāṇic ethic: rulers and householders should protect social order, heed wise counsel, and act decisively against adharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; its ritual takeaway is indirect—victory over adharma and the sages’ pronouncement often frame later prescriptions for worship, vows, or consecrations in adjacent passages.