Matsya Purana — Yayāti in Amarāvatī-like Splendor: Devayānī Installed, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच वेद्मि त्वां शीलसम्पन्नां दैत्यकन्यामनिन्दिताम् रूपं तु ते न पश्यामि सूच्यग्रमपि निन्दितम् //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca vedmi tvāṃ śīlasampannāṃ daityakanyāmaninditām rūpaṃ tu te na paśyāmi sūcyagramapi ninditam //

Translation

Yayāti dit : « Je te connais comme une jeune fille des Daitya, irréprochable et riche de bonne conduite ; pourtant je ne vois pas ta forme, pas même la moindre trace — fût-ce la pointe d’une aiguille. »

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): King Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• वेद्मि (vedmi): I know/recognize

• त्वाम् (tvām): you

• शील-सम्पन्नाम् (śīla-sampannām): endowed with good character

• दैत्य-कन्याम् (daitya-kanyām): a daughter/maiden of the Daityas

• अनिन्दिताम् (aninditām): blameless, beyond reproach

• रूपम् (rūpam): form, appearance

• तु (tu): however/yet

• ते (te): your

• न (na): not

• पश्यामि (paśyāmi): I see

• सूच्य्-अग्रम् (sūcy-agram): the tip of a needle

• अपि (api): even

• निन्दितम् (ninditam): a tiny/mean trace (lit. ‘contemptible’, used idiomatically for ‘minute’)

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Daitya maiden (Daityakanyā)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal narrative
• Dialogue
• Ethics

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse belongs to a dynastic dialogue (Yayāti narrative) and focuses on recognition of character versus the inability to perceive physical form.

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

It highlights discernment: Yayāti affirms virtue (śīla) as knowable and praiseworthy, while also stressing the need for clear perception and truth in encounters—an ethical theme relevant to royal judgment and household conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

None explicitly; there is no Vāstu, temple iconography, or ritual procedure in this verse—its imagery (“needle-tip”) is rhetorical, emphasizing extreme minuteness/imperceptibility.