Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

*मत्स्य उवाच वज्राङ्गो नाम दैत्यो ऽभूत् तस्य पुत्रस्तु तारकः सुरानुद्वासयामास पुरेभ्यः स महाबलः //

Transliteration

*matsya uvāca vajrāṅgo nāma daityo 'bhūt tasya putrastu tārakaḥ surānudvāsayāmāsa purebhyaḥ sa mahābalaḥ //

Translation

Matsya said: “There was a Daitya named Vajrāṅga. His son was Tāraka—mighty in strength—who drove the Devas out from their cities.”

Word by Word

• मत्स्य उवाच (matsya uvāca): Matsya said

• वज्राङ्गः (vajrāṅgaḥ): Vajrāṅga (lit. ‘vajra-limbed’, a proper name)

• नाम (nāma): named

• दैत्यः (daityaḥ): a Daitya (demon of the Diti line)

• अभूत् (abhūt): existed/was

• तस्य (tasya): of him

• पुत्रः (putraḥ): son

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• तारकः (tārakaḥ): Tāraka (proper name)

• सुरान् (surān): the Devas/gods

• उद्वासयामास (udvāsayāmāsa): expelled/drove out (causative intensive sense)

• पुरेभ्यः (purebhyaḥ): from the cities

• सः (saḥ): he

• महाबलः (mahābalaḥ): very powerful, of great might

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu as Matsya)

Entities Mentioned

• Matsya
• Vajrāṅga
• Tāraka
• Daityas
• Devas (Suras)
• Puras (cities)

Tags

• Daitya-Deva conflict
• Asura genealogy
• Puranic narrative
• Cosmic order
• Mythic kingship context

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights a disruption of cosmic order where a Daitya lineage (Vajrāṅga → Tāraka) overpowers the Devas and forces them from their cities.

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

By portraying the Devas being driven from their rightful abodes, the verse implies the dharmic ideal that rulers must protect cities and uphold order—preventing the strong from unlawfully dispossessing the rightful occupants.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu or ritual rule is stated, but the reference to “cities” (pura) frames the narrative around the loss of protected settlements—useful context when the Purāṇa later discusses safeguarding sacred and civic spaces.