Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच विद्ध्यौशनसि भद्रं ते न त्वदर्हो ऽस्मि भामिनि अविवाह्याः स्म राजानो देवयानि पितुस्तव //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca viddhyauśanasi bhadraṃ te na tvadarho 'smi bhāmini avivāhyāḥ sma rājāno devayāni pitustava //

Translation

Yayāti sprach: „Wisse dies, o Tochter des Uśanas (Śukra); Segen sei über dir. O leidenschaftliche Frau, ich bin dir kein angemessener Gemahl. Devayānī, Könige wie wir sind nicht solche, die dein Vater zu verheiraten hat.“

Word by Word

• ययातिः उवाच: Yayāti said

• विद्धि: know/understand

• औशनसि: O daughter of Uśanas (Śukra)

• भद्रम् ते: blessings/good fortune to you

• न: not

• त्वत्-अर्हः: fit/suitable for you

• अस्मि: I am

• भामिनि: O impassioned/angry woman

• अविवाह्याः: not to be married (as husbands)/not proper to marry

• स्म: indeed/once (particle)

• राजानः: kings

• देवयानि: O Devayānī

• पितुः तव: by your father/of your father

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Devayānī
• Uśanas (Śukra)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Marriage norms
• Royal conduct
• Genealogy
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to the dynastic narrative, focusing on social and marital propriety within royal lineages.

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

It highlights restraint and adherence to dharma: a king should consider social/legal propriety and lineage norms in marriage, rather than acting purely from desire or opportunity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is centered on interpersonal ethics and marital eligibility in a royal-genealogical context.