Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच द्वाभ्यां कन्यासहस्राभ्यां द्वे कन्ये परिवारिते गोत्रे च नामनी चैव द्वयोः पृच्छाम्यतो ह्य् अहम् //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca dvābhyāṃ kanyāsahasrābhyāṃ dve kanye parivārite gotre ca nāmanī caiva dvayoḥ pṛcchāmyato hy aham //

Translation

Yayāti dit : «Ces deux jeunes femmes sont entourées de deux mille jeunes filles. C’est pourquoi je m’enquiers de toutes deux : de leur gotra (lignée) et de leurs noms».

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• द्वाभ्याम् (dvābhyām): by two

• कन्या-सहस्राभ्याम् (kanyā-sahasrābhyām): by two thousand maidens

• द्वे (dve): two

• कन्ये (kanye): maidens/young women

• परिवारिते (parivārite): surrounded/attended

• गोत्रे (gotre): lineages/clans

• च (ca): and

• नामनी (nāmanī): the names (dual)

• चैव (caiva): and indeed

• द्वयोः (dvayoḥ): of the two

• पृच्छामि (pṛcchāmi): I ask

• अतः (ataḥ): therefore/for this reason

• हि (hi): indeed

• अहम् (aham): I

Speaker

• King Yayati

Entities Mentioned

• Yayati
• Kanya-s (maidens)
• Gotra (lineage)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Court
• Marriage
• Lineage

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it belongs to a dynastic narrative, focusing on identifying lineage and names within a royal context.

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

It reflects the royal (and broader dharmic) practice of verifying gotra and identity before forming alliances—especially marriage—underscoring responsibility, propriety, and orderly succession in dynastic life.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is explicitly mentioned; the technical focus is social-dharmic—gotra (lineage) and naming as markers of lawful status in genealogical tradition.