Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

वज्राङ्गेणाहितं गर्भं वराङ्गी वरवर्णिनी पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं च दधारोदर एव हि //

Transliteration

vajrāṅgeṇāhitaṃ garbhaṃ varāṅgī varavarṇinī pūrṇaṃ varṣasahasraṃ ca dadhārodara eva hi //

Translation

The lady of beautiful limbs and radiant complexion, having conceived the fetus implanted by Vajrāṅga, indeed bore it within her womb for a full thousand years.

Word by Word

• वज्राङ्गेण (vajrāṅgeṇa): by Vajrāṅga

• आहितं (āhitaṃ): placed/implanted, deposited

• गर्भं (garbhaṃ): embryo, fetus

• वराङ्गी (varāṅgī): the woman with excellent limbs, fair-formed lady

• वरवर्णिनी (varavarṇinī): of splendid complexion, radiant-hued

• पूर्णं (pūrṇaṃ): complete, full

• वर्षसहस्रं (varṣa-sahasraṃ): a thousand years

• च (ca): and

• दधार (dadhāra): bore, carried

• उदरे (udare): in the belly/womb

• एव (eva): indeed, certainly

• हि (hi): for, indeed (emphatic particle)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (narrating to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vajrāṅga
• Varāṅgī (epithet of the mother)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Miraculous Birth
• Puranic Narrative
• Lineage

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it belongs to a genealogical narrative emphasizing a miraculous birth motif (an extraordinarily long gestation) within royal/lineage storytelling.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic focus on legitimate lineage and succession—key to royal duty (rājadharma) and social continuity—by narrating extraordinary circumstances around progeny and inheritance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual instruction appears in this verse; it is narrative, highlighting conception and gestation rather than construction or ritual procedure.