Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

बाहुना हेमकेयूररुचिरेण षडाननः ततो जवान्महासेनस् तारकं दानवाधिपम् //

Transliteration

bāhunā hemakeyūrarucireṇa ṣaḍānanaḥ tato javānmahāsenas tārakaṃ dānavādhipam //

Translation

Then Ṣaḍānana (Skanda), whose arm shone with a golden armlet, swift and as the great commander of hosts, charged at Tāraka, the lord of the Dānavas.

Word by Word

• बाहुना: with (his) arm

• हेम-केयूर-रुचिरेण: made splendid by a golden armlet (keyūra)

• षडाननः: the Six-faced one (Skanda/Kārttikeya)

• ततः: then

• जवान्: swift, impetuous

• महासेनः: the great general/commander (of the gods’ army)

• तारकम्: Tāraka

• दानवाधिपम्: the lord of the Dānavas (demon-chief)

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) describing the combat episode

Entities Mentioned

• Ṣaḍānana (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Mahāsena
• Tāraka
• Dānava

Tags

• Skanda
• Tāraka
• Devasura war
• Iconography
• Puranic battle

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a martial description from the Skanda–Tāraka conflict, focusing on the swift advance of Skanda against the Dānava king.

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

Indirectly, it upholds the kṣātra ideal of decisive protection: the ‘great commander’ acts swiftly against a disruptive tyrant, echoing the Purāṇic model that rulers must restrain adharma and safeguard order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is taught here; the notable technical detail is iconographic—Skanda is marked by the golden keyūra (armlet), a descriptive cue useful for identifying his form in Purāṇic imagery.