Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

ता दृष्ट्वा रहिता गास्तु कचेनाभ्यागता वनात् उवाच वचनं काले देवयान्यथ भार्गवम् //

Transliteration

tā dṛṣṭvā rahitā gāstu kacenābhyāgatā vanāt uvāca vacanaṃ kāle devayānyatha bhārgavam //

Translation

Seeing those cows left unattended, Kacha came back from the forest; and at the proper moment Devayānī then spoke these words to the Bhārgava (Kacha).

Word by Word

• ताः (tāḥ): those (cows)

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• रहिताः (rahitāḥ): unattended, left without protection

• गाः (gāḥ): cows

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• कचेन (kacena): by Kacha

• अभ्यागताः (abhyāgatāḥ): returned/come near (having arrived)

• वनात् (vanāt): from the forest

• उवाच (uvāca): spoke/said

• वचनम् (vacanam): words/speech

• काले (kāle): at the right time, in due course

• देवयानी (devayānī): Devayani

• अथ (atha): then

• भार्गवम् (bhārgavam): to the Bhargava (descendant of Bhṛgu), i.e., Kacha

Speaker

• Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller) describing Devayānī addressing Kacha

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Kacha
• Bhṛgu lineage (Bhārgava)
• Cows (Gāḥ)
• Forest (Vana)

Tags

• Yayati
• Devayani
• Kacha
• Dialogue
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is purely narrative within the Yayāti–Devayānī–Kacha episode and does not discuss pralaya, cosmology, or dissolution; it sets the scene for Devayānī’s speech to Kacha.

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

Indirectly, it reflects the dharmic emphasis on proper timing, orderly speech, and attentiveness to protection of valuable dependents (symbolized by unattended cows), themes often extended in Purāṇas to household and royal responsibility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it functions as a narrative transition into a dialogue.