Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship

Devanagari script

*देवयान्युवाच आख्यास्याम्यहम् आदत्स्व वचनं मे नराधिप शुको नामासुरगुरुः सुतां जानीहि तस्य माम् //

Transliteration

*devayānyuvāca ākhyāsyāmyaham ādatsva vacanaṃ me narādhipa śuko nāmāsuraguruḥ sutāṃ jānīhi tasya mām //

Translation

Devayānī said: “I shall tell you who I am. Accept my words, O king. Śukra, renowned as the preceptor of the Asuras—know me to be his daughter.”

Word by Word

• देवयानी (devayānī): Devayānī

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• आख्यास्यामि (ākhyāsyāmi): I will relate/tell

• अहम् (aham): I

• आदत्स्व (ādatsva): accept, receive

• वचनम् (vacanam): words, statement

• मे (me): my

• नराधिप (narādhipa): O king, lord of men

• शुको/शुक्रः (śuko/śukraḥ): Śukra (Venus), the sage

• नाम (nāma): by name/known as

• असुरगुरुः (asuraguruḥ): teacher/preceptor of the Asuras

• सुताम् (sutām): daughter

• जानीहि (jānīhi): know (imperative)

• तस्य (tasya): of him

• माम् (mām): me

Speaker

• Devayānī

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Śukra (Asuraguru)
• Asuras
• King (Yayāti, implied by narādhipa)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Dialogue
• Royal Narrative
• Puranic Ethics

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is part of a royal-genealogical narrative, focusing on identity and lineage rather than cosmic creation or Pralaya.

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

It models proper royal conduct in dialogue: the king is asked to “accept the words” of a speaker and recognize lineage—key for lawful marriage alliances, social order, and responsible kingship in Purāṇic ethics.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse is about personal identification and lineage (Śukra’s daughter) within a narrative context.