Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — The Slaying of Tāraka: Skanda’s Śakti and the Victory of the Devas

Devanagari script

*सूत उवाच श्रुत्वैतत्तारकः सर्वम् उद्घुष्टं देवबन्दिभिः सस्मार ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं वधं बालादुपस्थितम् //

Transliteration

*sūta uvāca śrutvaitattārakaḥ sarvam udghuṣṭaṃ devabandibhiḥ sasmāra brahmaṇo vākyaṃ vadhaṃ bālādupasthitam //

Translation

Sūta said: Having heard all that was loudly proclaimed by the gods’ bards, Tāraka remembered Brahmā’s pronouncement—that his death was imminent and would come at the hands of a mere boy.

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• एतत्: this

• तारकः: Tāraka

• सर्वम्: all (of it)

• उद्घुष्टम्: loudly proclaimed, announced

• देवबन्दिभिः: by the divine bards/panegyrists of the gods

• सस्मार: remembered, recalled

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā

• वाक्यम्: statement, decree

• वधम्: slaying, death

• बालात्: from/at the hands of a boy

• उपस्थितम्: arrived, imminent, close at hand

Speaker

• Sūta (Sūta Ugraśravas)

Entities Mentioned

• Tāraka
• Brahmā
• Deva-bandis (divine bards)

Tags

• Daitya
• Brahmā’s boon
• Prophecy
• Deva–Asura conflict
• Kumāra motif

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on a prophetic decree by Brahmā regarding Tāraka’s destined death, highlighting karmic inevitability rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic ethic that power must be tempered by humility: even a mighty being is bound by divine ordinance, a lesson applicable to rulers and householders regarding restraint and accountability.

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 setup for a destined confrontation rather than a technical instruction.