Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

वेश्यानामपि यो धर्मस् तं नो ब्रूहि तपोधन कथयिष्यत्यतस्तासां स दाल्भ्यश्चैकितायनः //

Transliteration

veśyānāmapi yo dharmas taṃ no brūhi tapodhana kathayiṣyatyatastāsāṃ sa dālbhyaścaikitāyanaḥ //

Translation

“O treasure of austerity, tell us what the proper dharma is even for courtesans. Therefore, Dālbhya and Caikitāyana will now explain the duties prescribed for them.”

Word by Word

• veśyānām: of courtesans (professional women)

• api: even/also

• yaḥ: which

• dharmaḥ: duty, righteous conduct

• tam: that

• naḥ: to us

• brūhi: tell, speak

• tapodhana: O wealth of austerity (address to an ascetic/sage)

• kathayiṣyati: will explain/tell

• ataḥ: therefore/for this reason

• tāsām: of those women (courtesans)

• saḥ: he

• dālbhyaḥ: Dālbhya (name of a sage/authority)

• ca: and

• aikitāyanaḥ (caikitāyanaḥ): Caikitāyana (name of a sage/authority).

Speaker

• Narratorial transition within the dialogue (request to an ascetic authority; then attribution to sages Dālbhya and Caikitāyana as forthcoming speakers/teachers)

Entities Mentioned

• Dālbhya
• Caikitāyana
• Veśyā (courtesan community)

Tags

• Dharma
• Social ethics
• Women
• Conduct
• Matsya Purana teachings

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is about social dharma, specifically introducing a teaching on the duties of courtesans rather than cosmology or pralaya.

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

Indirectly, it frames dharma as applicable to all social groups; such classifications guide householders and rulers in setting ethical norms, adjudicating disputes, and maintaining social order with role-specific duties.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None in this verse; it functions as a transition into a dharma instruction, not as a Vastu Shastra or ritual-procedure statement.