Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

तथा परैर्महाभल्लैर् मयूरं गुहवाहनम् बिभेद तारकः क्रुद्धः स सैन्ये ऽसुरनायकः //

Transliteration

tathā parairmahābhallair mayūraṃ guhavāhanam bibheda tārakaḥ kruddhaḥ sa sainye 'suranāyakaḥ //

Translation

Likewise, the enraged Tāraka—leader of the asuras amid his army—pierced with other great barbed darts the peacock that served as Guha’s mount.

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise/then

• paraiḥ: with other (weapons)/by others

• mahābhallaiḥ: with great bhallas (barbed/pointed darts)

• mayūram: the peacock

• guha-vāhanam: the vehicle (mount) of Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• bibheda: pierced, split, wounded

• tārakaḥ: Tāraka (the asura)

• kruddhaḥ: enraged

• saḥ: he

• sainye: in/among the army

• asura-nāyakaḥ: leader of the asuras

Speaker

• Sūta/primary Purāṇic narrator (describing the battle episode)

Entities Mentioned

• Tāraka
• Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Mayūra (peacock mount)

Tags

• Deva-Asura War
• Skanda
• Iconography
• Puranic Battle
• Mythic Narrative

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a battlefield narration focused on Tāraka attacking Guha’s peacock mount, not on cosmic creation or dissolution.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic theme of kṣātra-dharma (martial duty): leaders protect their side in conflict; here, the asura leader acts as a commander within the army, illustrating the role of a nāyaka (military head).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated; the main significance is iconographic—Guha/Skanda is identified through his vahana (the peacock), a key marker used in Purāṇic and temple-image identification.