Matsya Purana — Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā’s Quarrel, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

वचनं तीक्ष्णपरुषं क्रोधरक्तेक्षणा भृशम् स्तुवतो दुहितासि त्वं याचतः प्रतिगृह्णतः //

Transliteration

vacanaṃ tīkṣṇaparuṣaṃ krodharaktekṣaṇā bhṛśam stuvato duhitāsi tvaṃ yācataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ //

Translation

ನಿನ್ನ ಮಾತುಗಳು ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣವೂ ಕಠೋರವೂ ಆಗಿವೆ; ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ನಿನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳು ತುಂಬ ಕೆಂಪಾಗಿವೆ. ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಸ್ತುತಿಸುವವನಿಗೆ ನೀ ಮಗಳಂತೆ; ಆದರೆ ಬೇಡುವವನಿಂದ ನೀ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತೀಯೆ.

Word by Word

• vacanam: speech/utterance

• tīkṣṇa: sharp/biting

• paruṣam: harsh/rough

• krodha: anger

• rakta-īkṣaṇā: having reddened eyes

• bhṛśam: greatly/excessively

• stuvataḥ: of one who praises

• duhitā asi: you are (like) a daughter

• tvam: you

• yācataḥ: of one who begs/implores

• pratigṛhṇataḥ: of one who accepts/takes/receives (here: you accept/take from the supplicant)

Speaker

• Likely Sūta (narrator) conveying a nīti passage within the Matsya Purāṇa’s ethical instruction; exact dialogue-speaker is not explicit from the single verse.

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Niti
• Ethics of speech
• Anger
• Conduct

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a nīti-style observation on anger, harsh speech, and how people behave differently toward flatterers versus supplicants.

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

It warns against krodha-driven, cutting speech and the bias of favoring flattery while exploiting the needy—key failings a king or householder should avoid to uphold dharma and fair dealing.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its focus is ethical conduct and restraint in speech and temperament.