Matsya Purana — The Dialogue of Kacha and Devayani: Dharma, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच एवमुक्त्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ देवयानीं कचस्तदा त्रिदशेशालयं शीघ्रं जगाम द्विजसत्तमः //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca evamuktvā nṛpaśreṣṭha devayānīṃ kacastadā tridaśeśālayaṃ śīghraṃ jagāma dvijasattamaḥ //

Translation

Śaunaka dit : Après avoir ainsi parlé à Devayānī, ô meilleur des rois, Kaca — le plus éminent des deux-fois-nés — se rendit promptement à la demeure du seigneur des dieux.

Word by Word

• शौनक उवाच (śaunaka uvāca): Śaunaka said

• एवम् (evam): thus

• उक्त्वा (uktvā): having said/spoken

• नृपश्रेष्ठ (nṛpaśreṣṭha): O best of kings

• देवयानीम् (devayānīm): to Devayānī

• कचः (kacaḥ): Kacha

• तदा (tadā): then

• त्रिदशेश-आलयम् (tridaśeśa-ālayaṃ): the abode of the lord of the thirty (gods), i.e., Indra’s heaven

• शीघ्रम् (śīghram): swiftly

• जगाम (jagāma): went

• द्विजसत्तमः (dvijasattamaḥ): the best among the twice-born (excellent brāhmaṇa).

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Kacha
• Devayānī
• Indra (Tridaśeśa)

Tags

• Genealogy
• Puranic narrative
• Devas and Asuras
• Brāhmaṇa
• Royal discourse

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it is a narrative transition describing Kacha’s swift departure to Indra’s celestial abode after speaking with Devayānī.

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

By addressing the listener as “best of kings” and highlighting Kacha’s decisive conduct, the verse supports the Purāṇic ideal that rulers and householders should value clarity of speech, timely action, and adherence to one’s role (dharma) in social order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the only technical term is “tridaśeśālaya,” indicating Indra’s celestial residence (a cosmological location rather than temple-architecture guidance).