Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4
सूतो वज्रधरस्येष्टो मातलिर्नाम नामतः । स पुत्रं शप्तवान्पूर्वं कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे
sūto vajradharasyeṣṭo mātalirnāma nāmataḥ | sa putraṃ śaptavānpūrvaṃ kasmiṃścitkāraṇāntare
वज्रधर (इंद्र) याचा लाडका सारथी ‘मातली’ नावाने प्रसिद्ध होता। एका प्रसंगी, काही कारणाने, त्याने पूर्वी आपल्या पुत्राला शाप दिला।
Mārkaṇḍeya (narrator)
Listener: Bhārata
Scene: Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, in celestial attire with a charioteer’s insignia, shown in distress after cursing his son; background hints of Indra’s court and the divine chariot.
FAQs
Even intimate relationships are governed by dharma and karma; a śāpa (curse) can set the stage for purification and later spiritual rise.
Not directly; this verse establishes the karmic background that will later connect to Dārutīrtha.
None; it narrates the origin of a curse.