Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

*देवयान्युवाच कथमाशीविषात् सर्पाज् ज्वलनात् सर्वतोमुखात् दुराधर्षतरो विप्र इत्यात्थ पुरुषर्षभ //

Transliteration

*devayānyuvāca kathamāśīviṣāt sarpāj jvalanāt sarvatomukhāt durādharṣataro vipra ityāttha puruṣarṣabha //

Translation

Devayānī sprach: „Wie kommt es, dass du sagst, o Brāhmaṇa, du seist noch unbezwingbarer als eine Giftschlange — wie ein alles verzehrendes Feuer mit Mündern nach allen Seiten? Sage es mir, o Stier unter den Menschen.“

Word by Word

• devayānī uvāca: Devayānī said

• katham: how

• āśīviṣāt sarpāt: than a highly venomous serpent

• jvalanāt: than blazing fire

• sarvato-mukhāt: having faces/mouths on all sides (all-consuming, in every direction)

• durādharṣataraḥ: more difficult to assail/overpower, more unassailable

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa

• iti: thus

• āttha: speak/tell (you said / please tell)

• puruṣa-ṛṣabha: O best of men, bull among men

Speaker

• Devayānī

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa, addressed figure)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Dialogue
• Protection
• Power
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it is a character-focused dialogue using the imagery of venom and all-consuming fire to describe someone’s formidable, untouchable nature.

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

Indirectly, it highlights the Purāṇic ideal of being “durādharṣa” (hard to overpower): a king through disciplined strength and protection of subjects, and a householder through self-restraint, learning, and moral authority that commands respect.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is purely metaphorical, emphasizing awe and inviolability rather than technical ritual or architectural rules.