Shloka 31

Matsya Purana — Inquiry into Yayāti’s Story and the Kacha–Devayānī Episode

Devanagari script

गा रक्षन्तं वने दृष्ट्वा रहस्येनममर्षिताः जघ्नुर् बृहस्पतेर् द्वेषान् निजरक्षार्थम् एव च //

Transliteration

gā rakṣantaṃ vane dṛṣṭvā rahasyenamamarṣitāḥ jaghnur bṛhaspater dveṣān nijarakṣārtham eva ca //

Translation

Seeing him in the forest guarding the cattle, they—seething with resentment—secretly killed him, out of hatred for Bṛhaspati and also for their own self-protection.

Word by Word

• gā: the cows/cattle

• rakṣantam: protecting, guarding

• vane: in the forest

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• rahasyena: secretly, in concealment

• amārṣitāḥ: intolerant, resentful, enraged

• jaghnuḥ: they killed

• bṛhaspateḥ: of Bṛhaspati

• dveṣāt: out of hatred

• nija-rakṣārtham: for their own protection

• eva ca: indeed, and also

Speaker

• Sūta (narrator) relaying the account within the Matsya Purana’s early narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Bṛhaspati
• Gā (cattle)

Tags

• Dharma
• Violence
• Cattle-protection
• Deva-guru
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it highlights moral causality in narrative history—how hatred and fear-driven self-preservation can lead to covert violence.

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

It indirectly underscores dharma: protecting cattle is a valued duty, while secret violence motivated by envy (dveṣa) is portrayed as adharmic—warning rulers and householders against governance or decisions driven by hatred and fear.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-architecture or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its focus is ethical narrative—cattle-guarding and the consequences of hostility toward sacred authority (Bṛhaspati).