Shloka 15

Matsya Purana — Tārakāsura’s Austerity and Boon; Mobilization for War; Bṛhaspati’s Fourfold P...

Devanagari script

तारकस्य वरं दातुं जगाम त्रिदशालयात् प्राप्य तं शैलराजानं स गिरेः कन्दरस्थितम् उवाच तारकं देवो गिरा मधुरया युतः //

Transliteration

tārakasya varaṃ dātuṃ jagāma tridaśālayāt prāpya taṃ śailarājānaṃ sa gireḥ kandarasthitam uvāca tārakaṃ devo girā madhurayā yutaḥ //

Translation

To grant Tāraka a boon, the god set out from the abode of the Thirty-three. Reaching that ‘king of mountains’ and finding him stationed in a cave of the mountain, the deity addressed Tāraka in a gentle, sweet voice.

Word by Word

• तारकस्य (tārakasya): of Tāraka

• वरम् (varam): a boon

• दातुम् (dātum): to give/grant

• जगाम (jagāma): went/set out

• त्रिदशालयात् (tridaśālayāt): from the abode of the thirty-three gods (heaven)

• प्राप्य (prāpya): having reached

• तम् (tam): him

• शैलराजानम् (śailarājānam): the king of mountains / mountain-lord

• स (sa): he

• गिरेः (gireḥ): of the mountain

• कन्दरस्थितम् (kandara-sthitam): situated in a cave

• उवाच (uvāca): said/addressed

• तारकम् (tārakam): Tāraka

• देवः (devaḥ): the god

• गिरा (girā): with speech/voice

• मधुरया (madhurayā): sweet, gentle

• युतः (yutaḥ): endowed with.

Speaker

• Deva (the god who approaches Tāraka to grant a boon; commonly interpreted as Brahmā in the Tārakāsura-boon context)

Entities Mentioned

• Tāraka (Tārakāsura)
• Tridaśa (the thirty-three gods)
• Śailarāja (king of mountains)
• Deva (the god granting the boon)

Tags

• Asura boon
• Deva-loka
• Mythic geography
• Puranic narrative
• Dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on a deva approaching Tāraka to grant a boon, highlighting divine–asura interactions rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it models diplomatic restraint: even when dealing with an adversary, the deity speaks in ‘sweet’ measured words—an ethical ideal echoed in Purāṇic counsel on self-control and prudent speech.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is prescribed here; the only setting detail is the mountain cave (kandara), used as narrative geography rather than architectural instruction.