Matsya Purana — Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dialogue: Yayāti’s Transgression, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

*शुक्र उवाच न त्व् अहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनो ऽसि पार्थिव मिथ्याचरणधर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष //

Transliteration

*śukra uvāca na tv ahaṃ pratyavekṣyaste madadhīno 'si pārthiva mithyācaraṇadharmeṣu cauryaṃ bhavati nāhuṣa //

Translation

Śukra sprach: „Ich bin nicht einer, den du befragen solltest; o König, du stehst unter meiner Autorität. O Nāhuṣa, in den Satzungen falschen und adharmahaften Handelns entsteht wahrlich Diebstahl.“

Word by Word

• śukra uvāca: Śukra said

• na: not

• tv: indeed/you (emphatic particle)

• aham: I

• pratyavekṣyaḥ: to be examined/questioned/called to account

• te: by you/for you

• mad-adhīnaḥ asi: you are dependent on me/under my control

• pārthiva: O king

• mithyā-ācaraṇa: false conduct, wrongful practice

• dharmeṣu: in the ‘dharmas’/norms/codes

• cauryam: theft, stealing

• bhavati: occurs/arises

• nāhuṣa: O Nāhuṣa

Speaker

• Śukra (Śukrācārya)

Entities Mentioned

• Śukra
• Nāhuṣa

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Nīti
• Dharma
• Ethics
• Kingship

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on moral governance—how false conduct leads to theft and social disorder.

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

It frames royal duty as disciplined obedience to rightful authority and warns that adopting ‘false dharmas’ (unethical norms) breeds theft—implying a king must uphold true dharma to prevent crime.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the takeaway is ethical: corruption in conduct becomes the seed of stealing and misrule.