Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते वराङ्गी सुषुवे सुतम् जायमाने तु दैत्येन्द्रे तस्मिंल्लोकभयंकरे //

Transliteration

tato varṣasahasrānte varāṅgī suṣuve sutam jāyamāne tu daityendre tasmiṃllokabhayaṃkare //

Translation

Then, at the end of a thousand years, the beautiful-limbed lady gave birth to a son. And when that lord of the Daityas was born—one who would become a terror to the worlds—fear spread through all realms.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• varṣa-sahasra-ante: at the end of a thousand years

• varāṅgī: the fair-/beautiful-limbed woman

• suṣuve: gave birth

• sutam: to a son

• jāyamāne: when (he was) being born

• tu: indeed

• daitya-indre: in/at the birth of the lord of the Daityas

• tasmin: in/with him

• loka-bhayaṃ-kare: causing fear to the worlds

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) recounting the Matsya Purana’s dynastic legend to the sages

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Daityendra
• Varāṅgī

Tags

• Ancient Indian genealogy
• Dynasties
• Asura/Daitya lore
• Puranic narrative
• Cosmic fear

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it signals a cosmic imbalance through the birth of a Daitya-lord whose emergence generates fear across the worlds—often a narrative precursor to divine intervention rather than dissolution itself.

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

By portraying a ruler-like figure (daityendra) as “world-terrifying,” the verse implies the ethical contrast central to Purāṇic polity: true kingship protects beings and upholds dharma, whereas tyrannical power produces universal insecurity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; it functions as narrative genealogy/legend rather than a technical injunction.