Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā’s Quarrel

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच कृतविद्ये कचे प्राप्ते हृष्टरूपा दिवौकसः कचादवेत्य तां विद्यां कृतार्था भरतर्षभ //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca kṛtavidye kace prāpte hṛṣṭarūpā divaukasaḥ kacādavetya tāṃ vidyāṃ kṛtārthā bharatarṣabha //

Translation

Śaunaka said: O bull among the Bharatas, when Kaca returned having mastered the sacred vidyā, the dwellers of heaven became radiant with joy; having learned that very vidyā from Kaca, they deemed their purpose fulfilled.

Word by Word

• शौनक (śaunaka): Śaunaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• कृत-विद्ये (kṛta-vidye): having accomplished/mastered the knowledge

• कचे (kace): when Kaca

• प्राप्ते (prāpte): had arrived/returned

• हृष्ट-रूपाः (hṛṣṭa-rūpāḥ): delighted, joyful in appearance

• दिवौकसः (divaukasaḥ): the gods, inhabitants of heaven

• कचात् (kacāt): from Kaca

• अवेत्य (avetya): having come to know/learned

• ताम् (tām): that

• विद्याम् (vidyām): knowledge, sacred science

• कृत-अर्थाः (kṛtārthāḥ): having achieved their aim, satisfied

• भरत-ऋषभ (bharata-ṛṣabha): O best of the Bharatas

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Kaca
• Divaukasaḥ (Devas)

Tags

• Vidyā
• Devas
• Itihasa-episode
• Rishi-dialogue
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya; it focuses on the successful attainment and transmission of vidyā (sacred knowledge) and the devas’ rejoicing at its recovery.

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

Indirectly, it upholds the ideal that learning should be completed and applied for rightful ends—suggesting that rulers and householders should value disciplined education and the proper acquisition of knowledge for dharmic goals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical emphasis is on vidyā—its mastery and transmission—rather than temple architecture or rites.