Matsya Purana — The Dialogue of Kacha and Devayani: Dharma, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

आर्षं धर्मं ब्रुवाणो ऽहं देवयानि यथा त्वया शप्तुं नार्हो ऽस्मि कल्याणि कामतो ऽद्य च धर्मतः //

Transliteration

ārṣaṃ dharmaṃ bruvāṇo 'haṃ devayāni yathā tvayā śaptuṃ nārho 'smi kalyāṇi kāmato 'dya ca dharmataḥ //

Translation

اے دیویانی، میں رِشیوں کے بتائے ہوئے دھرم کو بیان کرنے والا ہوں؛ اس لیے، اے نیک بخت، جیسے تم نے مجھے شاپ دیا ویسے میں تمہیں شاپ دینے کے لائق نہیں—نہ آج خواہش کے سبب، نہ دھرم کی بنا پر۔

Word by Word

• ārṣam: of the ṛṣis, seer-taught

• dharmam: dharma, righteous law

• bruvāṇaḥ: speaking, declaring

• aham: I

• devayāni: O Devayānī

• yathā: just as

• tvayā: by you

• śaptum: to curse

• na: not

• arhaḥ: fit, entitled

• asmi: am

• kalyāṇi: O auspicious lady

• kāmataḥ: from desire, from personal motive

• adya: today/now

• ca: and

• dharmataḥ: from dharma, as a matter of righteousness

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (as a dharma-speaking king/authority figure in the narrative)

Entities Mentioned

• Devayānī
• Ṛṣis (Ārṣa)

Tags

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Curse
• Self-restraint
• Dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not address pralaya or cosmology; it focuses on ethical restraint—refusing to retaliate with a curse even when wronged.

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

It presents a key dharma principle: a leader or disciplined householder should not act from kāma (personal impulse) and should avoid retaliatory speech; righteousness includes self-control and measured response.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple or ritual procedure is mentioned; the significance is moral-ritual in tone—maintaining purity of conduct by avoiding harmful speech like cursing.