Shloka 33

Matsya Purana — Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā’s Quarrel

Devanagari script

वचनं तीक्ष्णपरुषं क्रोधरक्तेक्षणा भृशम् स्तुवतो दुहितासि त्वं याचतः प्रतिगृह्णतः //

Transliteration

vacanaṃ tīkṣṇaparuṣaṃ krodharaktekṣaṇā bhṛśam stuvato duhitāsi tvaṃ yācataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ //

Translation

تمہارے کلمات تیز اور سخت ہیں؛ غضب سے تمہاری آنکھیں بہت سرخ ہیں۔ جو تمہاری تعریف کرے، اس کے لیے تم بیٹی کی مانند ہو جاتی ہو؛ مگر جو مانگے، اس سے تم اور زیادہ قبول کر لیتی ہو۔

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.