Matsya Purana — Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā’s Quarrel, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

*देवयान्युवाच निष्कृतिर् वास्तु वा मास्तु शृणुष्वावहितो मम शर्मिष्ठया यदुक्तास्मि दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः //

Transliteration

*devayānyuvāca niṣkṛtir vāstu vā māstu śṛṇuṣvāvahito mama śarmiṣṭhayā yaduktāsmi duhitrā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ //

Translation

দেবযানী বলল—“প্রায়শ্চিত্ত থাক বা না থাক; কিন্তু মনোযোগ দিয়ে আমার কথা শোনো। বৃ্ষপৰ্বণের কন্যা শর্মিষ্ঠা আমাকে যা বলেছে, তা শোনো।”

Word by Word

• devayānī uvāca: Devayānī said

• niṣkṛtiḥ: expiation/atonement

• vāstu: let it be/so be it (an assent: ‘let it stand’)

• vā: or

• māstu: let it not be/let there not be

• śṛṇuṣva: listen

• avahitaḥ: attentive, focused

• mama: to me/for me

• śarmiṣṭhayā: by Śarmiṣṭhā

• yad: what/that which

• uktā asmi: I was told (lit. ‘I have been spoken to’)

• duhitrā: by the daughter

• vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ: of Vṛṣaparvan

Speaker

• Devayani

Entities Mentioned

• Devayani
• Sharmishtha
• Vrishaparvan

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Court intrigue
• Dialogue
• Yayati episode

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse belongs to the Yayati/dynastic narrative and focuses on interpersonal testimony and the question of atonement, not Pralaya cosmology.

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

It foregrounds due hearing and careful attention before judgment—an ethical prerequisite for royal decision-making (dharma-based adjudication) and household conflict-resolution.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The term niṣkṛti (‘atonement’) is ritual-ethical vocabulary, but no Vāstu/temple-building rule is taught here; the verse is narrative rather than Vastuvidyā instruction.