Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच कथं तु ते सखी दासी कन्येयं वरवर्णिनी असुरेन्द्रसुता सुभूः परं कौतूहलं हि मे //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca kathaṃ tu te sakhī dāsī kanyeyaṃ varavarṇinī asurendrasutā subhūḥ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me //

Translation

യയാതി പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മനോഹരവർണ്ണിനിയായ കന്യകേ, നിന്റെ സഖിയായിട്ടും ഇവൾ എങ്ങനെ ദാസിയായി? ഇവൾ അസുരേന്ദ്രന്റെ പുത്രി ശുഭൂ; എനിക്കിതിൽ പരമ കൗതൂഹലമുണ്ട്.

Word by Word

• ययातिः उवाच: Yayāti said

• कथम्: how

• तु: indeed/then

• ते: your

• सखी: friend

• दासी: maidservant/slave-girl

• कन्या इयम्: this maiden

• वर-वर्णिनी: of excellent complexion/beautiful

• असुर-इन्द्र-सुता: daughter of the king/lord of the Asuras

• सुभूः: Shubhū (proper name)

• परम्: great/utmost

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity/wonder

• हि: indeed

• मे: for me/to me

Speaker

• King Yayati

Entities Mentioned

• Yayati
• Shubhū (Asurendra-sutā)
• Asurendra (lord of the Asuras)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Dialogue
• Asuras
• Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse is part of a genealogical-narrative episode (Yayāti’s inquiry) and does not address Pralaya; it focuses on social status, identity, and the circumstances around an Asura king’s daughter.

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

Yayāti’s question reflects a king’s duty to investigate lineage, social obligations, and the ethical implications of relationships within the royal household—especially when a noble-born woman is treated as a servant.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra, temple architecture, or ritual procedure is referenced in this verse; it is a narrative inquiry within the dynastic section.