Shloka 18

Matsya Purana — The Birth of Tāraka: Varāṅgī’s Lament

Devanagari script

देवसीमन्तिनीनां तु धम्मिल्लस्य विमोक्षणः इत्युक्तो दैत्यनाथस्तु प्रणिपत्य पितामहम् //

Transliteration

devasīmantinīnāṃ tu dhammillasya vimokṣaṇaḥ ityukto daityanāthastu praṇipatya pitāmaham //

Translation

“For the divine ladies, the releasing (or loosening) of the hair-knot (dhammilla) is prescribed.” Thus instructed, the lord of the Daityas bowed down to Pitāmaha (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• deva-sīmantinīnām: of divine women/ladies

• tu: indeed/and

• dhammillasya: of the hair-knot/topknot (a tied coiffure)

• vimokṣaṇaḥ: release, loosening, untying

• iti: thus

• uktaḥ: having been told/instructed

• daitya-nāthaḥ: the lord of the Daityas (demon-king)

• tu: then

• praṇipatya: having bowed down/prostrated

• pitāmaham: to Pitāmaha, Brahmā (the Grandfather).

Speaker

• Primary narrator (Purāṇic narration); the verse reports an instruction followed by the Daitya-lord’s obeisance to Brahmā (Pitāmaha).

Entities Mentioned

• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Daityanātha (lord of the Daityas)
• Devasīmantinī (divine ladies)

Tags

• Iconography
• Ritual procedure
• Auspicious marks
• Hair/ornament rules
• Purāṇic narration

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on a prescriptive detail (loosening/releasing the hair-knot) connected with divine feminine depiction or ritual decorum.

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

Indirectly, it reflects dharma as disciplined adherence to śāstric instruction—here shown by the Daitya-lord respectfully bowing to Brahmā after receiving guidance, modeling proper deference to authoritative teaching.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It preserves a technical iconographic/ritual cue: for divine women, the ‘dhammilla’ (hair-knot/coiffure) is to be ‘released/loosened,’ a detail relevant to pratima-lakṣaṇa (image-making) and ceremonial presentation.