Shloka 12

Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm

Varuṇa-loka Darśana

Devanagari script

इस प्रसंगमें कन्यादान करनेके लिये वर ढूँढ़नेवाले मातलिके इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं ।।

Transliteration

mataḥ trailokyarājasya mātalināma sārathiḥ | tasyākaivā kule kanyā rūpato lokaviśrutā ||

Translation

କଣ୍ୱ କହିଲେ—କନ୍ୟାଦାନ ପାଇଁ ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ବର ଖୋଜୁଥିବା ଲୋକେ ଏହି ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ଇତିହାସର ଦୃଷ୍ଟାନ୍ତ ଦେଇଥାନ୍ତି। ତ୍ରିଲୋକରାଜ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପ୍ରିୟ ସାରଥିର ନାମ ମାତଲି ଥିଲା। ତାଙ୍କ ବଂଶରେ ଗୋଟିଏମାତ୍ର କନ୍ୟା ଥିଲା; ଯିଏ ନିଜ ରୂପରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକରେ ବିଖ୍ୟାତ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• मतः: approved; esteemed
• मतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (√मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रैलोक्यराजस्य: of the king of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यराजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्यराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• मातलिनाम: of Mātali
• मातलिनाम: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सारथिः: charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• एका: one; only
• एका: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed; only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कुले: in (his) family
• कुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• कन्या: daughter; maiden
• कन्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• रूपतः: by beauty; in respect of form
• रूपतः: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रूप

• लोकविश्रुता: famed in the world(s)
• लोकविश्रुता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकविश्रुत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

कण्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कण्व (Kaṇva)
• इन्द्र (Indra)
• मातलि (Mātali)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames marriage (especially kanyādāna) as a dharmic act guided by precedent and careful selection: families cite exemplary ancient histories to justify and refine the search for a worthy bridegroom, emphasizing responsibility toward lineage and social order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaṇva introduces an old, well-known story used as an example in discussions of arranging a daughter’s marriage. He begins by identifying Mātali, Indra’s charioteer, and notes that Mātali had a single daughter celebrated for her beauty—setting the stage for the ensuing account of finding her a suitable match.