Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच विद्ध्यौशनसि भद्रं ते न त्वदर्हो ऽस्मि भामिनि अविवाह्याः स्म राजानो देवयानि पितुस्तव //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca viddhyauśanasi bhadraṃ te na tvadarho 'smi bhāmini avivāhyāḥ sma rājāno devayāni pitustava //

Translation

Yayāti dit : «Sache-le, ô fille d’Uśanas (Śukra) ; bénédiction sur toi. Ô femme au cœur ardent, je ne suis pas un parti digne de toi. Devayānī, des rois tels que nous ne doivent pas être donnés en mariage par ton père.»

Word by Word

• ययातिः उवाच: Yayāti said

• विद्धि: know/understand

• औशनसि: O daughter of Uśanas (Śukra)

• भद्रम् ते: blessings/good fortune to you

• न: not

• त्वत्-अर्हः: fit/suitable for you

• अस्मि: I am

• भामिनि: O impassioned/angry woman

• अविवाह्याः: not to be married (as husbands)/not proper to marry

• स्म: indeed/once (particle)

• राजानः: kings

• देवयानि: O Devayānī

• पितुः तव: by your father/of your father

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Devayānī
• Uśanas (Śukra)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Marriage norms
• Royal conduct
• Genealogy
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to the dynastic narrative, focusing on social and marital propriety within royal lineages.

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

It highlights restraint and adherence to dharma: a king should consider social/legal propriety and lineage norms in marriage, rather than acting purely from desire or opportunity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the verse is centered on interpersonal ethics and marital eligibility in a royal-genealogical context.