Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच दशेदाशीविषस्त्वेकं शस्त्रेणैकश्च वध्यते हन्ति विप्रः सराष्ट्राणि पुराण्यपि हि कोपितः //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca daśedāśīviṣastvekaṃ śastreṇaikaśca vadhyate hanti vipraḥ sarāṣṭrāṇi purāṇyapi hi kopitaḥ //

Translation

Yayāti sprach: „Eine einzige giftige Schlange kann zehn töten, und ein einzelner Mensch kann durch eine Waffe erschlagen werden; doch wenn ein Brāhmaṇa erzürnt, vermag er ganze Königreiche zu vernichten – selbst befestigte Städte.“

Word by Word

• yayātiḥ uvāca: Yayāti said

• daśa: ten

• edāśī-viṣaḥ: venomous serpent (a deadly snake)

• tu: indeed/but

• ekam: one (single)

• śastreṇa: by a weapon

• ekaḥ: one person

• ca: and

• vadhyate: is killed/can be slain

• hanti: destroys/kills

• vipraḥ: a brāhmaṇa, learned priest-sage

• sa-rāṣṭrāṇi: along with (entire) kingdoms/realms

• purāṇi api: even cities/fortified towns

• hi: surely/indeed

• kopitaḥ: when angered/enraged

Speaker

• King Yayati

Entities Mentioned

• Yayati
• Vipra (Brahmin)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Rajadharma
• Brahminical power
• Ethics
• Kingship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it emphasizes moral causality in society—how the spiritual power (tejas) of an angered brāhmaṇa is portrayed as more destructive than physical weapons.

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

It warns rulers and householders to uphold dharma by honoring learned brāhmaṇas and avoiding offenses; social order and royal stability are depicted as dependent on restraint, respect, and protection of sacred authority.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-building rule is stated; “purāṇi” (cities/fortified towns) is used to stress the scale of destruction caused by spiritual wrath rather than to prescribe architectural practice.