Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच अधर्मो मां स्पृशेदेवं पापम् अस्याश्च भार्गव वर्णसंकरतो ब्रह्मन्न् इति त्वां प्रवृणोम्यहम् //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca adharmo māṃ spṛśedevaṃ pāpam asyāśca bhārgava varṇasaṃkarato brahmann iti tvāṃ pravṛṇomyaham //

Translation

Yayāti dit : «Que l’adharma ne me touche point ainsi, ni que le péché ne naisse en son cas. Ô Bhārgava, ô Brāhmane : craignant la confusion de l’ordre des varṇa (varṇa-saṅkara), je te choisis donc comme autorité et guide en cette affaire.»

Word by Word

• yayātiḥ uvāca: Yayāti said

• adharmaḥ: unrighteousness, violation of dharma

• mām: me

• spṛśet: may it touch/afflict

• evam: in this manner

• pāpam: sin, demerit

• asyāḥ ca: and of her/for her

• bhārgava: O descendant of Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)

• varṇa-saṅkarataḥ: from (the cause of) mixing/confusion of social classes/varṇas

• brahman: O Brahman, O learned one

• iti: thus

• tvām: you

• pravṛṇomi: I choose, I select

• aham: I

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Dharma
• Genealogy
• Varna
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dharma in royal conduct and the fear of sin arising from varṇa-saṅkara (social/lineage confusion).

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

It presents a king’s duty to avoid adharma and prevent actions that could cause social disorder; Yayāti seeks a qualified Brahmanical authority (Bhārgava) to ensure his decision aligns with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the verse is ethical and juridical in tone, emphasizing dharma, sin-avoidance, and proper counsel.