Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

संत्यजध्वं भयं देवाः शंकरस्यात्मजः शिशुः तुहिनाचलदौहित्रस् तं हनिष्यति दानवम् //

Transliteration

saṃtyajadhvaṃ bhayaṃ devāḥ śaṃkarasyātmajaḥ śiśuḥ tuhinācaladauhitras taṃ haniṣyati dānavam //

Translation

Abandon your fear, O gods. The child who is Śaṅkara’s son—the grandson of the Snow-Mountain (Himālaya)—will slay that dānava (demon).

Word by Word

• संत्यजध्वम् (saṃtyajadhvam): cast away, abandon

• भयम् (bhayam): fear

• देवाः (devāḥ): O gods

• शंकरस्य (śaṃkarasya): of Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• आत्मजः (ātmajaḥ): son

• शिशुः (śiśuḥ): child, young one

• तुहिनाचल (tuhinācala): the Snow-Mountain (Himālaya)

• दौहित्रः (dauhitras/dauhitraḥ): grandson (daughter’s son)

• तम् (tam): him/that one

• हनिष्यति (haniṣyati): will slay

• दानवम् (dānavam): demon (Daitya/Dānava).

Speaker

• Narrator within the Purāṇic dialogue (contextually a reassuring voice addressing the Devas; commonly conveyed by Sūta/primary narrator in Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Devas
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Skanda/Kumāra (implied by 'Śaṅkara’s son')
• Himālaya (Tuhinācala)
• Dānava/Daitya (demon)

Tags

• Deva-Danava war
• Skanda
• Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony
• Protection
• Purāṇic prophecy

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a martial-prophetic reassurance in a Deva–Dānava conflict, foretelling the demon’s death at the hands of Śiva’s son (Skanda/Kumāra).

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

Indirectly, it models dhairya (steadfastness): fear should be abandoned when righteous protection is assured. In Purāṇic ethics, rulers and householders are advised to act without panic, trusting dharma and competent leadership in crises.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-rule detail appears in this verse; its ritual takeaway is devotional—confidence in divine guardianship and the protective role of Skanda in Purāṇic tradition.