Shloka 19

Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship

Devanagari script

*देवयान्युवाच संसृष्टं ब्रह्मणा क्षत्रं क्षत्रं ब्रह्मणि संश्रितम् ऋषिश्च ऋषिपुत्रश्च नाहुषाद्य भजस्व माम् //

Transliteration

*devayānyuvāca saṃsṛṣṭaṃ brahmaṇā kṣatraṃ kṣatraṃ brahmaṇi saṃśritam ṛṣiśca ṛṣiputraśca nāhuṣādya bhajasva mām //

Translation

Devayānī said: “The Kṣatriya order was fashioned by Brahmā, and the Kṣatriya is established in dependence upon the Brāhmaṇa. You are a Ṛṣi, and also a Ṛṣi’s son—therefore, O descendant of Nahusha, accept me as your wife.”

Word by Word

• देवयानी (devayānī): Devayānī

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• संसृष्टम् (saṃsṛṣṭam): created/formed

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• क्षत्रम् (kṣatram): the Kṣatriya order/royal power

• क्षत्रम् (kṣatram): the Kṣatriya

• ब्रह्मणि (brahmaṇi): in/under the Brāhmaṇa (priestly order)

• संश्रितम् (saṃśritam): dependent upon/taking refuge in

• ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ): a seer

• च (ca): and

• ऋषिपुत्रः (ṛṣiputraḥ): son of a seer

• च (ca): and

• नाहुषाद्य (nāhuṣādya): O descendant of Nahusha

• भजस्व (bhajasva): accept/choose/take (as one’s own)

• माम् (mām): me

Speaker

• Devayānī

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Brahmā
• Kṣatriya (Kṣatra)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Nahusha
• Ṛṣi

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Varna
• Dharma
• Marriage

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on social order (Kṣatriya–Brāhmaṇa dependence) within a dynastic narrative, not cosmic dissolution.

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

It frames royal power (kṣatra) as requiring guidance and sanction from the Brāhmaṇa/ṛṣi tradition—implying that kingship and household life should be aligned with dharma under priestly counsel.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the closest “ritual” implication is the dharmic norm that Kṣatriya authority is to be anchored in Brāhmaṇical/ṛṣi guidance.