Shloka 28

Matsya Purana — Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā’s Quarrel

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा दुहितरं काव्यस् तदा शर्मिष्ठया हताम् त्वरया निर्ययौ दुःखान् मार्गमाणः सुतां वने //

Transliteration

śrutvā duhitaraṃ kāvyas tadā śarmiṣṭhayā hatām tvarayā niryayau duḥkhān mārgamāṇaḥ sutāṃ vane //

Translation

Hearing that his daughter had been harmed by Śarmiṣṭhā, Kāvya (Śukrācārya), stricken with grief, hurried out, searching for his daughter in the forest.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• दुहितरम्: (his) daughter

• काव्यः: Kāvya (Śukra/Śukrācārya)

• तदा: then

• शर्मिष्ठया: by Śarmiṣṭhā

• हताम्: struck/harmed

• त्वरया: with haste

• निर्ययौ: went out/departed

• दुःखान्: afflicted with sorrow/grief

• मार्गमाणः: searching for

• सुताम्: daughter

• वने: in the forest

Speaker

• Suta/Paurnika narrator (third-person narrative within the Matsya Purana’s dynastic account)

Entities Mentioned

• Kāvya (Śukrācārya)
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Kāvya’s daughter (Devayānī)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Yayati episode
• Conflict
• Ethics

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse belongs to the Matsya Purana’s dynastic narrative, focusing on familial conflict and its consequences rather than cosmic creation or pralaya.

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

It highlights the social and ethical weight of protecting dependents and resolving harm done within royal circles—conflicts among elites can trigger wider political and moral repercussions, a recurring theme in Matsya Purana dynasty accounts.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse is narrative, describing Śukra’s urgent search for his injured daughter.