Shloka 41

Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

समयं दैत्यसिंहस्य सशक्रस्य नु संस्थिताः वदतेति च दैत्यस्य प्रेष्यैर्विहसिता बहु //

Transliteration

samayaṃ daityasiṃhasya saśakrasya nu saṃsthitāḥ vadateti ca daityasya preṣyairvihasitā bahu //

Translation

Standing before Indra (Śakra) and the “lion” among the Daityas, they spoke of the agreed truce; yet the Daitya’s attendants laughed loudly and at length.

Word by Word

• samayam: an agreement, truce, appointed compact

• daitya-siṃhasya: of the ‘lion among the Daityas’ (a mighty Daitya leader)

• sa-śakrasya: together with Śakra/Indra, in Indra’s presence

• nu: indeed/now (emphatic particle)

• saṃsthitāḥ: standing, stationed, present

• vadatā: while speaking, saying

• iti: thus, so

• ca: and

• daityasya: of the Daitya (lord/leader)

• preṣyaiḥ: by the attendants, servants, messengers

• vihasitāḥ: laughed at, mocked

• bahu: much, greatly, repeatedly.

Speaker

• Narrator (Sūta/compilation voice) describing the scene within the Daitya–Deva episode

Entities Mentioned

• Śakra (Indra)
• Daityas
• Daitya-siṃha (a Daitya leader)

Tags

• Devas vs Asuras
• Truce
• Mockery
• Epic narrative
• Diplomacy

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it depicts a political-military moment—discussion of a samaya (truce) amid Deva–Daitya hostility, highlighting tension rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It foregrounds the dharmic importance of samaya (treaty/pledge): mockery around a truce implies instability and warns rulers that diplomacy requires discipline, restraint, and honoring agreements to prevent renewed conflict.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its takeaway is ethical-political—how assemblies treat envoys and agreements (samaya) can determine peace or war.