Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

विषण्णमनसो देवाः समहेन्द्रास्तदाभवन् वराङ्गी स्वसुतं दृष्ट्वा हर्षेणापूरिता तदा //

Transliteration

viṣaṇṇamanaso devāḥ samahendrāstadābhavan varāṅgī svasutaṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣeṇāpūritā tadā //

Translation

Then the gods—along with Indra—became downcast at heart. But Varāṅgī, on seeing her own son, was at that moment filled completely with joy.

Word by Word

• विषण्णमनसः (viṣaṇṇa-manasāḥ): dejected in mind, sorrowful-hearted

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods

• समहेन्द्राः (sama-hendrāḥ): together with Indra

• तदा (tadā): then, at that time

• अभवन् (abhavan): became

• वराङ्गी (varāṅgī): Varāṅgī (a woman of fair/beautiful limbs

• स्वसुतम् (sva-sutam): her own son

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• हर्षेण (harṣeṇa): with joy, with delight

• आपूरिता (āpūritā): filled, flooded, made full

• तदा (tadā): then

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) or the ongoing Purāṇic narrator (contextual narration within Matsya Purāṇa)

Entities Mentioned

• Devāḥ (the Gods)
• Indra
• Varāṅgī
• Varāṅgī’s son

Tags

• Puranic narrative
• Devas
• Indra
• Maternal joy
• Emotion in Itihasa-Purana

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya or cosmology; it is a narrative moment contrasting the gods’ dejection with Varāṅgī’s joy upon seeing her son.

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

Indirectly, it highlights a Purāṇic ethical theme: outcomes in life affect communities differently—public duty may involve grief or anxiety for the welfare of many (like the gods), while household life centers on family bonds and rightful joy (as with a mother seeing her child).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None is stated in this verse; it is purely narrative and emotional, with no Vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure described.