Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

सप्तधा सप्तधा कोपात् प्राबुध्यत ततो दितिः विबुध्योवाच मा शक्र घातयेथाः प्रजां मम //

Transliteration

saptadhā saptadhā kopāt prābudhyata tato ditiḥ vibudhyovāca mā śakra ghātayethāḥ prajāṃ mama //

Translation

Then Diti awoke in wrath—again and again—and, coming to her senses, she said: “O Śakra (Indra), do not slay my offspring.”

Word by Word

• सप्तधा सप्तधा: sevenfold, again and again

• कोपात्: from anger, in wrath

• प्राबुध्यत: awoke, became conscious

• ततः: then

• दितिः: Diti

• विबुध्या: having regained awareness/understanding, becoming lucid

• उवाच: said

• मा: do not

• शक्र: O Śakra (Indra)

• घातयेथाः: you should kill/slay

• प्रजाम्: offspring, progeny

• मम: my

Speaker

• Diti

Entities Mentioned

• Diti
• Shakra (Indra)

Tags

• Manvantara
• Deva-Asura conflict
• Indra
• Maternal plea
• Karma and consequences

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to a Manvantara-era divine conflict narrative, highlighting ethical tension and the consequences of anger and violence rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It underscores restraint and compassion: even when power permits punishment, the plea “do not slay my offspring” frames dharma as self-control and sensitivity to familial bonds—values applicable to rulers and householders alike.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule appears in this verse; its focus is interpersonal and ethical within the Indra–Diti episode.