Matsya Purana — Devayānī Meets Yayāti: Courtship, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच एवमुक्तो ययातिस्तु शुक्रं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम् जगाम स्वपुरं हृष्टः सो ऽनुज्ञातो महात्मना //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca evamukto yayātistu śukraṃ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam jagāma svapuraṃ hṛṣṭaḥ so 'nujñāto mahātmanā //

Translation

Sinabi ni Śaunaka: Nang masabihan nang gayon, si Haring Yayāti ay magalang na umikot kay Śukra (pradakṣiṇa), at saka umalis na masaya patungo sa sarili niyang lungsod, matapos pahintulutan ng dakilang pantas.

Word by Word

• शौनक उवाच (śaunaka uvāca): Śaunaka said

• एवम् (evam): thus

• उक्तः (uktaḥ): spoken to/addressed

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): Yayāti

• तु (tu): indeed

• शुक्रम् (śukram): Śukra (Śukrācārya)

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done

• प्रदक्षिणम् (pradakṣiṇam): circumambulation (clockwise reverential circling)

• जगाम (jagāma): went/departed

• स्वपुरम् (svapuram): to his own city

• हृष्टः (hṛṣṭaḥ): joyful/delighted

• सः (saḥ): he

• अनुज्ञातः (anugñātaḥ): permitted/allowed to depart

• महात्मना (mahātmanā): by the great-souled one (the noble sage)

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Yayāti
• Śukra (Śukrācārya)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Guru-Shishya
• Ritual Etiquette
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on courtly-dharmic conduct within the Yayāti episode—showing reverence to a revered teacher (Śukra) before departing.

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

It highlights dharmic etiquette: even a king should honor spiritual authority, seek permission before leaving, and perform respectful acts (like pradakṣiṇā) toward a guru or sage.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The ritual element is pradakṣiṇā—clockwise circumambulation as a formal act of reverence—commonly applied in temple worship, guru-veneration, and sacred spaces.