Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dialogue: Yayāti’s Transgression

Devanagari script

एवं पृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कुमारान्पर्यपृच्छत किं नामधेयगोत्रे वः पुत्रका ब्राह्मणः पिता //

Transliteration

evaṃ pṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kumārānparyapṛcchata kiṃ nāmadheyagotre vaḥ putrakā brāhmaṇaḥ pitā //

Translation

Après avoir ainsi interrogé le roi, elle questionna de près les jeunes princes : «Ô enfants, quel est votre nom et votre gotra (lignée) ? Et qui est votre père brāhmane ?»

Word by Word

• एवं (evaṃ): thus

• पृष्ट्वा (pṛṣṭvā): having asked/questioned

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• राजानं (rājānam): the king

• कुमारान् (kumārān): the princes/young sons

• पर्यपृच्छत (paryapṛcchata): asked thoroughly/inquired closely

• किम् (kim): what?

• नामधेय (nāmadheya): name/appellation

• गोत्रे (gotre): in respect of gotra/lineage

• वः (vaḥ): your

• पुत्रकाः (putrakāḥ): O sons/dear boys

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ): Brahmin

• पिता (pitā): father

Speaker

• Narrator (Sūta tradition) describing a king’s inquiry within the episode

Entities Mentioned

• King (rājā)
• Princes (kumāra)
• Brahmin father (brāhmaṇa pitā)
• Gotra (lineage)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Inquiry
• Dharma
• Lineage

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a narrative moment focused on identifying the princes by name and gotra, not on cosmology or pralaya.

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

It reflects a kingly duty of careful inquiry and discernment—establishing identity, lineage (gotra), and guardianship/parentage before making decisions affecting people under royal protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is social-legal identification (nāma, gotra, pitṛ-paricaya) commonly used in dharmic and genealogical contexts.