Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

मेने च दुर्जयं दैत्यस् तदा षड्वदनं रणे चिन्तयामास बुद्ध्या वै प्राप्तः कालो न संशयः //

Transliteration

mene ca durjayaṃ daityas tadā ṣaḍvadanaṃ raṇe cintayāmāsa buddhyā vai prāptaḥ kālo na saṃśayaḥ //

Translation

And then the Daitya judged the six-faced one to be unconquerable in battle; reflecting with his mind, he concluded: “The destined hour has arrived—there is no doubt.”

Word by Word

• मेने: considered/judged

• च: and

• दुर्जयम्: difficult to conquer, unconquerable

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon)

• तदा: then

• षड्वदनम्: the six-faced one (Ṣaḍvadana, i.e., Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• रणे: in battle

• चिन्तयामास: pondered, reflected

• बुद्ध्या: with (his) intellect/mind

• वै: indeed

• प्राप्तः: has arrived/has been reached

• कालः: time, the destined moment, fate

• न: not

• संशयः: doubt.

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic narrator relaying the battle episode; not a direct dialogue line of Matsya–Manu in this verse)

Entities Mentioned

• Daitya
• Ṣaḍvadana (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

Tags

• Devāsura-yuddha
• Skanda
• Fate (Kāla)
• Heroic narrative
• Matsya Purana mythology

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it uses “kāla” in the sense of a fated, decisive moment in battle rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it highlights discernment (buddhi) and realism: recognizing an unconquerable opponent and the turn of fate is a strategic virtue praised in Purāṇic ethics, relevant to rulers assessing battlefield conditions.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it is focused on martial context and the notion of Kāla (the decisive hour).