Shloka 17

Matsya Purana — Śukra Warns Vṛṣaparvan: The Ripening of Adharma and Devayānī’s Demand for Śar...

Devanagari script

*देवयान्युवाच दासीं कन्यासहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठामभिकामये अनुयास्यति मां तत्र यत्र दास्यति मे पिता //

Transliteration

*devayānyuvāca dāsīṃ kanyāsahasreṇa śarmiṣṭhāmabhikāmaye anuyāsyati māṃ tatra yatra dāsyati me pitā //

Translation

Devayānī said: “I desire Śarmiṣṭhā as my maidservant, together with a thousand maidens. She shall accompany me to the place where my father will give me (in marriage).”

Word by Word

• devayānī uvāca: Devayānī said

• dāsīm: as a maidservant

• kanyā-sahasreṇa: together with a thousand maidens

• śarmiṣṭhām: Śarmiṣṭhā

• abhikāmaye: I desire/request

• anuyāsyati: she shall follow/attend

• mām: me

• tatra: there

• yatra: where

• dāsyati: will give (in marriage/bestow)

• me: my

• pitā: father

Speaker

• Devayānī

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Devayānī's father (Śukrācārya)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Marriage
• Yayati Episode
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the Yayati genealogy narrative and describes Devayānī’s marital condition involving Śarmiṣṭhā.

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

It reflects social and marital arrangements in royal households—conditions attached to marriage alliances and the expected retinue/attendants—illustrating norms that shape household and courtly conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the verse focuses on a personal demand within a dynastic marriage episode.