Shloka 12

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Fall

Devanagari script

नाब्राह्मणः कृपणो जातु जीवेद् यद्यपि स्याद्ब्राह्मणी वीरपत्नी सो ऽहं यदेवाकृतपूर्वं चरेयं विवित्समानः किमु तत्र साधुः //

Transliteration

nābrāhmaṇaḥ kṛpaṇo jātu jīved yadyapi syādbrāhmaṇī vīrapatnī so 'haṃ yadevākṛtapūrvaṃ careyaṃ vivitsamānaḥ kimu tatra sādhuḥ //

Translation

A brāhmaṇa should never live as a miser, even if his wife is a brāhmaṇī and the spouse of a valiant man. Therefore I shall undertake what I have not done before; seeking true understanding, what could be wrong or improper in that?

Word by Word

• na: not

• abrāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa (one who lives by brahminical virtues)

• kṛpaṇaḥ: miserly, mean-spirited

• jātu: ever, at any time

• jīvet: should live

• yadyapi: even if

• syāt: may be/is

• brāhmaṇī: a brahmin woman

• vīra-patnī: wife of a hero/valiant man

• saḥ aham: I indeed

• yat eva: precisely that which

• akṛta-pūrvam: not done before

• careyam: I should practice/undertake

• vivitsamānaḥ: wishing to know, desiring true understanding

• kim u: what indeed?

• tatra: in that (course)

• sādhuḥ: proper, right, commendable

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (contextual attribution within the Matsya Purana’s ethical-dialogue style)

Entities Mentioned

• Brahmana
• Brahmani

Tags

• Dharma
• Brahmana conduct
• Self-effort
• Ethics
• Non-miserliness

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on ethical living—specifically that a brāhmaṇa should not adopt a miserly, degraded mode of life.

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

It reinforces a core dharmic standard relevant to householders and rulers alike: prosperity or social standing (even a noble spouse) does not justify kṛpaṇatā (miserliness). One must actively pursue right conduct and self-improvement.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the takeaway is moral-psychological—cultivating generosity and undertaking new, worthy disciplines in the pursuit of true knowledge.