Matsya Purana — The Dialogue of Kacha and Devayani: Dharma, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच समापितव्रतं तं तु विसृष्टं गुरुणा तदा प्रस्थितं त्रिदशावासं देवयानीदमब्रवीत् //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca samāpitavrataṃ taṃ tu visṛṣṭaṃ guruṇā tadā prasthitaṃ tridaśāvāsaṃ devayānīdamabravīt //

Translation

Śaunaka dit : Lorsqu’il eut achevé son observance de vœu et que le maître l’eut alors congédié, au moment où il se mettait en route vers la demeure des Trente-Trois dieux, Devayānī lui adressa ces paroles.

Word by Word

• शौनक (śaunaka): Śaunaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• समापित-व्रतम् (samāpita-vratam): having completed the vow/observance

• तम् (tam): him

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• विसृष्टम् (visṛṣṭam): dismissed/released

• गुरुणा (guruṇā): by the teacher (preceptor)

• तदा (tadā): then

• प्रस्थितम् (prasthitam): having set out/departing

• त्रिदश-आवासम् (tridaśa-āvāsam): the dwelling/abode of the Thirty (gods), i.e., heaven

• देवयानी (devayānī): Devayānī

• इदम् (idam): this

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt): spoke/said

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Devayānī
• Guru (preceptor)
• Tridaśa (the Thirty-three gods / Devas)

Tags

• Itihasa
• Genealogy
• Devayānī
• Vows (Vrata)
• Devaloka

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it introduces an Itihāsa-style narrative moment where, after completing a vow and being dismissed by his guru, the protagonist departs for the Devas’ abode and Devayānī begins speaking.

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

Indirectly, it reflects dharmic discipline: completing a vowed observance (vrata) and receiving formal dismissal from one’s teacher before departure—an ideal of obedience, training, and proper closure of duties that underpins household and royal conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual significance is the completion of a vrata and the guru’s formal release (visṛṣṭa) of the student; there is no Vāstu or temple-architecture instruction in this verse.