Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dialogue: Yayāti’s Transgression

Devanagari script

एवं पृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कुमारान्पर्यपृच्छत किं नामधेयगोत्रे वः पुत्रका ब्राह्मणः पिता //

Transliteration

evaṃ pṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kumārānparyapṛcchata kiṃ nāmadheyagotre vaḥ putrakā brāhmaṇaḥ pitā //

Translation

یوں بادشاہ سے پوچھ کر، پھر اس نے شہزادوں سے باریک بینی سے سوال کیا—“اے بیٹو، تمہارا نام اور گوتر کیا ہے؟ اور تمہارا برہمن باپ کون ہے؟”

Word by Word

• एवं (evaṃ): thus

• पृष्ट्वा (pṛṣṭvā): having asked/questioned

• तु (tu): then/indeed

• राजानं (rājānam): the king

• कुमारान् (kumārān): the princes/young sons

• पर्यपृच्छत (paryapṛcchata): asked thoroughly/inquired closely

• किम् (kim): what?

• नामधेय (nāmadheya): name/appellation

• गोत्रे (gotre): in respect of gotra/lineage

• वः (vaḥ): your

• पुत्रकाः (putrakāḥ): O sons/dear boys

• ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ): Brahmin

• पिता (pitā): father

Speaker

• Narrator (Sūta tradition) describing a king’s inquiry within the episode

Entities Mentioned

• King (rājā)
• Princes (kumāra)
• Brahmin father (brāhmaṇa pitā)
• Gotra (lineage)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Inquiry
• Dharma
• Lineage

FAQs

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

Nothing directly—this verse is a narrative moment focused on identifying the princes by name and gotra, not on cosmology or pralaya.

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

It reflects a kingly duty of careful inquiry and discernment—establishing identity, lineage (gotra), and guardianship/parentage before making decisions affecting people under royal protection.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical focus is social-legal identification (nāma, gotra, pitṛ-paricaya) commonly used in dharmic and genealogical contexts.