Matsya Purana — Yayāti in Amarāvatī-like Splendor: Devayānī Installed, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पृष्टास्तु साक्ष्ये प्रवदन्ति चान्यथा भवन्ति मिथ्यावचना नरेन्द्र ते एकार्थतायां तु समाहितायां मिथ्या वदन्तं ह्य् अनृतं हिनस्ति //

Transliteration

pṛṣṭāstu sākṣye pravadanti cānyathā bhavanti mithyāvacanā narendra te ekārthatāyāṃ tu samāhitāyāṃ mithyā vadantaṃ hy anṛtaṃ hinasti //

Translation

ولكن إذا سُئلوا للشهادة نطقوا على غير الحقيقة وصاروا قائلين للكذب، أيها الملك. أما إذا كانت القضية واحدة المعنى واضحة، فإن من يتكلم بالباطل يُصيبُه الباطلُ نفسه لا محالة.

Word by Word

• pṛṣṭāḥ: when questioned

• tu: indeed

• sākṣye: in testimony/as witnesses

• pravadanti: they speak/declare

• ca: and

• anyathā: otherwise/contrary to fact

• bhavanti: they become

• mithyā-vacanāḥ: speakers of falsehood

• narendra: O king

• te: those (people)

• ekārthatāyām: when the issue has one meaning/one clear point

• tu: however

• samāhitāyām: when it is settled/clearly ascertained

• mithyā: falsely

• vadantam: one who speaks

• hi: indeed

• anṛtam: untruth/falsehood

• hinasti: harms/strikes down/destroys.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu/kingly listener on dharma and judicial truth)

Entities Mentioned

• Narendra (the King)
• Sākṣin (witness, implied)
• Anṛta (falsehood, personified as a force)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Judicial ethics
• Truthfulness
• Witness testimony
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it teaches rajadharma—how false testimony violates dharma and brings self-destruction through untruth.

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

It warns that witnesses may lie when examined; therefore a king must uphold rigorous justice, encourage truthful testimony, and treat perjury as a grave adharma that ruins social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is ethical and judicial—truth in speech (satya) as a foundational discipline for society.