Shloka 40

Matsya Purana — Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dialogue: Yayāti’s Transgression

Devanagari script

*शुक्र उवाच संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां यथेष्टं नहुषात्मज मामनुध्याय तत्त्वेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि //

Transliteration

*śukra uvāca saṃkrāmayiṣyasi jarāṃ yatheṣṭaṃ nahuṣātmaja māmanudhyāya tattvena na ca pāpamavāpsyasi //

Translation

Śukra said: “O son of Nahusha, you shall transfer old age as you desire. Meditating upon me in truth, you will not incur any sin.”

Word by Word

• śukraḥ uvāca: Śukra said

• saṃkrāmayiṣyasi: you will cause to pass/transfer

• jarām: old age, senescence

• yatheṣṭam: as you wish, at will

• nahuṣa-ātmaja: O son of Nahusha

• mām: me

• anudhyāya: having meditated upon/fixing the mind upon

• tattvena: in truth, with right understanding

• na ca: and not

• pāpam: sin, demerit

• avāpsyasi: you will obtain/incur

Speaker

• Shukra (Śukrācārya)

Entities Mentioned

• Shukra
• Nahusha

Tags

• Dynasties
• Boons
• Tapas
• Dharma
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on a boon in a royal-dynastic narrative where Śukra grants the power to transfer old age without accruing sin through true meditation on the guru.

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

It frames power and privilege (a boon affecting aging) as ethically bounded: rightful use is linked to guru-reverence and truthful contemplation, implying that even extraordinary royal acts must align with dharma to avoid pāpa.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the practical takeaway is the Purāṇic emphasis on guru-dhyāna (meditation on the preceptor) as a means to keep actions free from sin.