Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

बद्ध्वा ततः सहस्राक्षं पाशेनामोघवर्चसा मातुरन्तिकमागच्छद् व्याघ्रः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा //

Transliteration

baddhvā tataḥ sahasrākṣaṃ pāśenāmoghavarcasā māturantikamāgacchad vyāghraḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā //

Translation

Then, having bound Sahasrākṣa (Indra) with a noose of unfailing power, he went into his mother’s presence—like a tiger carrying off a small beast.

Word by Word

• बद्ध्वा (baddhvā): having bound

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• सहस्राक्षम् (sahasrākṣam): the Thousand-Eyed one, Indra

• पाशेन (pāśena): with a noose

• अमोघ-वर्चसा (amogha-varcasā): of unfailing might/splendour, irresistibly potent

• मातुः (mātuḥ): of (his) mother

• अन्तिकम् (antikam): near/presence

• आगच्छत् (āgacchat): went/approached

• व्याघ्रः (vyāghraḥ): a tiger

• क्षुद्र-मृगम् (kṣudra-mṛgam): a small animal/prey

• यथा (yathā): as/like.

Speaker

• Suta (narrator) describing events within the Matsya Purana’s legendary-genealogical narration

Entities Mentioned

• Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• Pāśa (noose)
• Mother (mātṛ)

Tags

• Royal legends
• Indra
• Capture
• Power
• Simile

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a forceful capture of Indra, emphasizing irresistible power (amogha-varcas) rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By portraying even Indra being bound, the verse implicitly supports the Matsya Purana’s ethic that authority must be accountable—power is legitimate only when aligned with dharma, and wrongdoing invites restraint and correction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu/ritual rule is stated here; the key takeaway is narrative symbolism—“pāśa” (noose) functions as an image of control and subjugation, not a temple or rite prescription.