Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

इयं चापि कुमारी ते शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी संपूज्या सततं राजन् न चैनां शयने ह्वय //

Transliteration

iyaṃ cāpi kumārī te śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī saṃpūjyā satataṃ rājan na caināṃ śayane hvaya //

Translation

“This maiden too is yours—Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan. O King, she should always be duly honored; but do not call her to your bed.”

Word by Word

• iyam: this (girl)

• ca api: and also

• kumārī: maiden/young woman

• te: yours/for you

• śarmiṣṭhā: Śarmiṣṭhā (proper name)

• vārṣaparvaṇī: daughter/descendant of Vṛṣaparvan

• saṃpūjyā: to be honored/worshipfully respected

• satatam: always

• rājan: O king

• na: not

• ca: and

• enām: her

• śayane: to the bed/for conjugal union

• hvaya: call/summon

Speaker

• Devayānī (addressing King Yayāti, in the Yayāti–Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Vṛṣaparvan
• Yayāti

Tags

• Dynasties
• Royal Ethics
• Marriage Norms
• Puranic Narrative
• Dharma

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is part of a dynastic-ethical narrative (Yayāti episode) and focuses on conduct within the royal household rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It frames a king’s duty as twofold: to maintain honor and protection for those under his care (saṃpūjyā satatam) while exercising restraint in sexual/conjugal conduct (na… śayane hvaya), reflecting household and royal dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the only “ritual” nuance is the injunction to treat Śarmiṣṭhā with continual respect, implying formal honor rather than conjugal privilege.