Matsya Purana — The Dialogue of Kacha and Devayani: Dharma, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

*कच उवाच अनियोज्ये नियोगे मां नियुनक्षि शुभव्रते प्रसीद सुभ्रूर्मह्यं त्वं गुरोर् गुरुतरा शुभे //

Transliteration

*kaca uvāca aniyojye niyoge māṃ niyunakṣi śubhavrate prasīda subhrūrmahyaṃ tvaṃ guror gurutarā śubhe //

Translation

Kaca berkata: “Wahai yang berkaul suci, penugasan (niyoga) ini sebenarnya tidak patut dipaksakan, namun engkau menugaskannya kepadaku. Berkenanlah, wahai yang beralis indah; bagiku engkau lebih berat wibawanya daripada guruku, wahai wanita mulia.”

Word by Word

• कच (kaca): Kaca

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• अनियोज्ये (aniyojye): not fit to be appointed/unsuitable to be enjoined

• नियोगे (niyoge): in the niyoga arrangement/appointment

• मां (māṃ): me

• नियुनक्षि (niyunakṣi): you enjoin/appoint/urge (me) into

• शुभव्रते (śubhavrate): O woman of auspicious vows

• प्रसीद (prasīda): be pleased/show grace

• सुभ्रूः (subhrūḥ): O fair-browed one

• मह्यं (mahyaṃ): for me/to me

• त्वं (tvaṃ): you

• गुरोः (guroḥ): than the guru/teacher

• गुरुतरा (gurutara): more weighty/more authoritative

• शुभे (śubhe): O auspicious one

Speaker

• Kaca

Entities Mentioned

• Kaca
• Guru (unnamed)

Tags

• Niyoga
• Dharma
• Ethics
• Dialogue
• Puranic narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on personal dharma and the propriety of niyoga within a narrative dialogue.

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

It highlights dharmic scrutiny of niyoga—treating it as a serious, potentially improper imposition unless justified—reflecting the householder’s duty to follow ethical constraints even under social pressure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the key takeaway is ethical speech and consent-related propriety in a dharma-sensitive social institution (niyoga).