Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच एकदेहोद्भवा वर्णाश् चत्वारो ऽपि वरानने पृथग्धर्माः पृथक्छौचास् तेषां वै ब्राह्मणो वरः //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca ekadehodbhavā varṇāś catvāro 'pi varānane pṛthagdharmāḥ pṛthakchaucās teṣāṃ vai brāhmaṇo varaḥ //

Translation

യയാതി പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ സുന്ദരമുഖിയേ! നാലു വർണങ്ങളും ഒരേ ദേഹത്തിൽ നിന്നു ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചാലും, അവരുടെ ധർമ്മങ്ങൾ വ്യത്യസ്തം; ശൗച-ശുദ്ധിയുടെ മാനദണ്ഡങ്ങളും വ്യത്യസ്തം; അവരിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ തന്നെയാണ് ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ.

Word by Word

• ययातिः (Yayāti): King Yayati

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• एक-देह-उद्भवाः (eka-deha-udbhavāḥ): born from one body/source

• वर्णाः (varṇāḥ): social orders/classes

• चत्वारः (catvāraḥ): four

• अपि (api): even/indeed

• वरानने (varānane): O fair-faced one (vocative)

• पृथक् (pṛthak): separately/distinctly

• धर्माः (dharmāḥ): duties, laws of conduct

• पृथक्-छौचाः (pṛthak-chaucāḥ): having distinct rules/standards of purity (śauca)

• तेषाम् (teṣām): among them/of them

• वै (vai): indeed

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ): the Brāhmaṇa

• वरः (varaḥ): best, foremost.

Speaker

• King Yayati

Entities Mentioned

• Yayati
• Brahmana
• Four Varnas

Tags

• Varna-Dharma
• Shaucha
• Social Order
• Ethics
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it teaches social order—how four varṇas, though originating from a single source, are differentiated by distinct dharmas and purity disciplines.

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

It frames governance and household ethics around varṇa-specific duties and standards of conduct; a king (and householders) should uphold social harmony by recognizing differentiated roles and maintaining appropriate standards of śauca (purity/discipline) for each.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual implication is the emphasis on śauca—distinct purity disciplines that guide eligibility and propriety in rites across varṇas.