Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

तस्यां तपसि वर्तन्त्याम् इन्द्रश्चक्रे विभीषिकाम् भूत्वा तु मर्कटस्तत्र तदाश्रमपदं महान् //

Transliteration

tasyāṃ tapasi vartantyām indraścakre vibhīṣikām bhūtvā tu markaṭastatra tadāśramapadaṃ mahān //

Translation

While she was engaged in austerities, Indra contrived a dreadful disturbance; assuming the form of a monkey there, he raised great turmoil at that hermitage-site.

Word by Word

• तस्याम् (tasyām): in her/while she

• तपसि (tapasi): in austerity, penance

• वर्तन्त्याम् (vartantyām): while abiding/continuing

• इन्द्रः (indraḥ): Indra

• चक्रे (cakre): made, caused

• विभीषिकाम् (vibhīṣikām): a terror, fright, alarming apparition/disturbance

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become, taking the form of

• तु (tu): indeed/then

• मर्कटः (markaṭaḥ): a monkey

• तत्र (tatra): there

• तद्-आश्रम-पदम् (tad-āśrama-padam): that hermitage-place/ashram site

• महान् (mahān): great, intense

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic account; Indra is the acting agent within the narration)

Entities Mentioned

• Indra
• Markaṭa (monkey form)
• Āśrama (hermitage)

Tags

• Tapas
• Indra
• Temptation
• Asceticism
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a common Purāṇic motif where Indra generates fear and distraction to obstruct an ascetic’s tapas, highlighting psychological “disturbance” rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It indirectly teaches dharma through self-mastery: like an ascetic facing Indra’s distractions, a king or householder must remain steady in vows and responsibilities despite provocations, fear, or sensory temptations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The verse mentions an āśrama-pada (hermitage-site), implying a consecrated space for austerity; the key takeaway is the sanctity of ritual/penitential settings and the idea that external disturbances can threaten spiritual observances.