Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

*शक्र उवाच दिवास्वप्नपरा मातः पादाक्रान्तशिरोरुहा सप्तसप्तभिरेवातस् तव गर्भः कृतो मया //

Transliteration

*śakra uvāca divāsvapnaparā mātaḥ pādākrāntaśiroruhā saptasaptabhirevātas tava garbhaḥ kṛto mayā //

Translation

Śakra said: “O mother, you who delight in sleeping by day, whose hair upon the head has been trodden underfoot—by seven times seven (forty-nine) winds alone I have caused conception in your womb.”

Word by Word

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)

• uvāca: said

• divā-svapna-parā: devoted to sleeping in the daytime

• mātaḥ: O mother

• pāda-ākrānta-śiraḥ-ruhā: whose head-hair (locks) is pressed down/trampled by feet

• sapta-saptabhiḥ: by seven sevens (forty-nine)

• eva: indeed/alone

• vātaiḥ: by winds/airs

• tava: your

• garbhaḥ: embryo/conception/pregnancy

• kṛtaḥ: made/caused

• mayā: by me.

Speaker

• Śakra (Indra)

Entities Mentioned

• Śakra (Indra)
• Vāta (winds)

Tags

• Deva dialogue
• Mythic conception motif
• Puranic narrative
• Indra episodes
• Matsya Purana shloka

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to a mythic dialogue where Śakra describes causing conception through “winds,” reflecting a supernatural narrative motif rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Directly, it does not teach rājadharma or gṛhastha-dharma; indirectly, it illustrates Purāṇic storytelling about power, agency, and extraordinary means—used elsewhere in the Purāṇa to frame ethical lessons through narrative.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; it is a narrative statement centered on Śakra and the notion of conception effected by vāta (winds).