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

یَیاتی نے کہا—اے خوش رُو! اگرچہ چاروں ورن ایک ہی بدن سے پیدا ہوئے ہیں، مگر ان کے فرائض جدا ہیں اور طہارت کے معیار بھی جدا؛ ان میں برہمن ہی برتر ہے۔

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.