Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Code of Conduct and Vow-Procedure for Courtesans

Devanagari script

*ब्रह्मोवाच वर्णाश्रमाणां प्रभवः पुराणेषु मया श्रुतः सदाचारस्य भगवन् धर्मशास्त्रविनिश्चयः पण्यस्त्रीणां सदाचारं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः //

Transliteration

*brahmovāca varṇāśramāṇāṃ prabhavaḥ purāṇeṣu mayā śrutaḥ sadācārasya bhagavan dharmaśāstraviniścayaḥ paṇyastrīṇāṃ sadācāraṃ śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ //

Translation

Brahmā said: “O Blessed Lord, in the Purāṇas I have heard of the origin of the varṇas and the āśramas, and of the settled determinations of the Dharmaśāstras concerning sadācāra, right conduct. Now I wish to hear, truly and according to the full principle, the proper conduct prescribed for the paṇya-strīs, the courtesans.”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मोवाच: Brahmā said

• वर्णाश्रमाणाम्: of the varṇas (social classes) and āśramas (life-stages)

• प्रभवः: origin, emergence

• पुराणेषु: in the Purāṇas

• मया: by me

• श्रुतः: heard

• सदाचारस्य: of proper conduct (sadācāra)

• भगवन्: O Lord, O venerable one

• धर्मशास्त्रविनिश्चयः: settled determination/conclusion of Dharmaśāstra

• पण्यस्त्रीणाम्: of courtesans/professional women (paṇya-strī)

• सदाचारम्: proper conduct

• श्रोतुम्: to hear

• इच्छामि: I desire

• तत्त्वतः: in truth, according to the real principle.

Speaker

• Brahmā

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmā
• Varṇa
• Āśrama
• Dharmaśāstra
• Sadācāra
• Paṇya-strī

Tags

• Dharma
• Sadachara
• Social ethics
• Varna-ashrama
• Conduct rules

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it frames a Dharmaśāstra-style inquiry into sadācāra, specifically asking for principled guidance on social conduct.

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

By invoking Dharmaśāstra ‘viniścaya’ (authoritative conclusions), it signals that governance and household life should be aligned with regulated social ethics—implying that rulers and householders must understand and administer conduct norms within society.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; the focus is ethical and juridical—classification of conduct within varṇa-āśrama and specialized social roles.