Matsya Purana — Chapter 31
MtP 31.1
ययातिः स्वपुरं प्राप्य महेन्द्रपुरसंनिभम् प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं तत्र देवयानीं न्यवेशयत्
yayātiḥ svapuraṃ prāpya mahendrapurasaṃnibham praviśyāntaḥpuraṃ tatra devayānīṃ nyaveśayat
Yayāti, having reached his own city, which resembled the city of great Indra, entered the inner apartments and there installed Devayānī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.2
देवयान्याश्चानुमते सुतां तां वृषपर्वणः अशोकवनिकाभ्याशे गृहं कृत्वा न्यवेशयत्
devayānyāścānumate sutāṃ tāṃ vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ aśokavanikābhyāśe gṛhaṃ kṛtvā nyaveśayat
And with Devayānī's consent he made a house near the aśoka grove and installed there that daughter of Vṛṣaparvan,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.3
वृतां दासीसहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठाम् आसुरायणीम् वासोभिरन्नपानैश्च संविभज्य सुसंवृताम्
vṛtāṃ dāsīsahasreṇa śarmiṣṭhām āsurāyaṇīm vāsobhirannapānaiśca saṃvibhajya susaṃvṛtām
Śarmiṣṭhā of the asura line, surrounded by a thousand maidservants, well provided for, having apportioned to her clothing, food and drink.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.4
देवयान्या तु सहितः स नृपो नहुषात्मजः विजहार बहूनब्दान् देववन्मुदितो भृशम्
devayānyā tu sahitaḥ sa nṛpo nahuṣātmajaḥ vijahāra bahūnabdān devavanmudito bhṛśam
And that king, the son of Nahuṣa, together with Devayānī, took his pleasure for many years, exceedingly delighted, like a god.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.5
ऋतुकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते देवयानी वराङ्गना लेभे गर्भं प्रथमतः कुमारश्च व्यजायत
ṛtukāle tu samprāpte devayānī varāṅganā lebhe garbhaṃ prathamataḥ kumāraśca vyajāyata
And when her fertile season came, Devayānī, the fair-limbed woman, first conceived, and a son was born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.6
गते वर्षसहस्रे तु शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी ददर्श यौवनं प्राप्ता ऋतुं सा कमलेक्षणा
gate varṣasahasre tu śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī dadarśa yauvanaṃ prāptā ṛtuṃ sā kamalekṣaṇā
But when a thousand years had passed, Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, having attained youth, that lotus-eyed one, observed her fertile season.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.7
चिन्तयामास धर्मज्ञा ऋतुप्राप्तौ च भामिनी ऋतुकालश्च सम्प्राप्तो न कश्चिन्मे पतिर्वृतः
cintayāmāsa dharmajñā ṛtuprāptau ca bhāminī ṛtukālaśca samprāpto na kaścinme patirvṛtaḥ
And at the onset of her season the beautiful woman, who knew what was right, reflected: "My fertile time has come, and no husband has been chosen by me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.8
किं प्राप्तं किंच कर्तव्यं कथं कृत्वा सुखं भवेत् देवयानी प्रसूतासौ वृथाहं प्राप्तयौवना
kiṃ prāptaṃ kiṃca kartavyaṃ kathaṃ kṛtvā sukhaṃ bhavet devayānī prasūtāsau vṛthāhaṃ prāptayauvanā
What has been gained, and what is to be done? By doing what would there be happiness? Devayānī has borne a child, while I have come to my youth in vain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.9
यथा तया वृतो भर्ता तथैवाहं वृणोमि तम् राज्ञा पुत्रफलं देयम् इति मे निश्चिता मतिः अपीदानीं स धर्मात्मा रहो मे दर्शनं व्रजेत्
yathā tayā vṛto bhartā tathaivāhaṃ vṛṇomi tam rājñā putraphalaṃ deyam iti me niścitā matiḥ apīdānīṃ sa dharmātmā raho me darśanaṃ vrajet
As a husband was chosen by her, just so do I choose him; the fruit of a son should be given (to me) by the king — such is my settled resolve. If only that righteous man would now come into my sight in private!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.10
अथ निष्क्रम्य राजासौ तस्मिन्काले यदृच्छया अशोकवनिकाभ्याशे शर्मिष्ठां प्राप्य विस्मितः
atha niṣkramya rājāsau tasminkāle yadṛcchayā aśokavanikābhyāśe śarmiṣṭhāṃ prāpya vismitaḥ
Then that king, having gone out at that time by chance, near the aśoka grove came upon Śarmiṣṭhā and was astonished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.11
तमेकं रहसि दृष्ट्वा शर्मिष्ठा चारुहासिनी प्रत्युद्गम्याञ्जलिं कृत्वा राजानं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
tamekaṃ rahasi dṛṣṭvā śarmiṣṭhā cāruhāsinī pratyudgamyāñjaliṃ kṛtvā rājānaṃ vākyamabravīt
Seeing him alone in a private place, Śarmiṣṭhā of the lovely smile went forward to meet him, made the gesture of respect with joined hands, and spoke these words to the king:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.12
सोमश्चेन्द्रश्च वायुश्च यमश्च वरुणश्च वा तव वा नाहुष गृहे कः स्त्रियं द्रष्टुमर्हति
somaścendraśca vāyuśca yamaśca varuṇaśca vā tava vā nāhuṣa gṛhe kaḥ striyaṃ draṣṭumarhati
"Whether Soma or Indra or Vāyu or Yama or Varuṇa — or yours, O son of Nahuṣa — in whose house may one look upon a woman?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 31.13
रूपाभिजनशीलैर्हि त्वं राजन्वेत्थ मां सदा सा त्वां याचे प्रसाद्येह रन्तुमेहि नराधिप
rūpābhijanaśīlairhi tvaṃ rājanvettha māṃ sadā sā tvāṃ yāce prasādyeha rantumehi narādhipa
For you, O king, have always known me by my beauty, my birth, and my character; that same (woman) begs you: having won your favour here, come, O lord of men, to take pleasure (with me).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.14
वेद्मि त्वां शीलसम्पन्नां दैत्यकन्यामनिन्दिताम् रूपं तु ते न पश्यामि सूच्यग्रमपि निन्दितम्
vedmi tvāṃ śīlasampannāṃ daityakanyāmaninditām rūpaṃ tu te na paśyāmi sūcyagramapi ninditam
"I know you to be endowed with good character, a blameless daughter of the Daityas; and in your beauty I do not see even a needle's point of fault.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.15
मामब्रवीत्तदा शुक्रो देवयानीं यदावहम् नेयम् आह्वयितव्या ते शयने वार्षपर्वणी
māmabravīttadā śukro devayānīṃ yadāvaham neyam āhvayitavyā te śayane vārṣaparvaṇī
But Śukra said to me then, when I (married) Devayānī: 'This daughter of Vṛṣaparvan is not to be summoned by you to your bed.'"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.16
न नर्मयुक्तं वचनं हिनस्ति न स्त्रीषु राजन् न विवाहकाले प्राणात्यये सर्वधनापहारे पञ्चानृतान्याहुर् अपातकानि
na narmayuktaṃ vacanaṃ hinasti na strīṣu rājan na vivāhakāle prāṇātyaye sarvadhanāpahāre pañcānṛtānyāhur apātakāni
"A statement made in jest does no harm, nor (one made) about women, O king, nor at the time of marriage, nor when life is at stake, nor when all one's wealth is being taken away: these five untruths they declare to be no sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.17
पृष्टास्तु साक्ष्ये प्रवदन्ति चान्यथा भवन्ति मिथ्यावचना नरेन्द्र ते एकार्थतायां तु समाहितायां मिथ्या वदन्तं ह्य् अनृतं हिनस्ति
pṛṣṭāstu sākṣye pravadanti cānyathā bhavanti mithyāvacanā narendra te ekārthatāyāṃ tu samāhitāyāṃ mithyā vadantaṃ hy anṛtaṃ hinasti
But those who, being questioned as witnesses, speak otherwise, they become speakers of falsehood, O lord of men; when the matter is single and has been duly established, untruth destroys him who speaks falsely.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.18
राजा प्रमाणं भूतानां स विनश्येन्मृषा वदन् अर्थकृच्छ्रमपि प्राप्य न मिथ्या कर्तुमुत्सहे
rājā pramāṇaṃ bhūtānāṃ sa vinaśyenmṛṣā vadan arthakṛcchramapi prāpya na mithyā kartumutsahe
"The king is the standard for beings; he would perish if he spoke falsely. Even if I fall into difficulty over a matter, I cannot bring myself to act falsely."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.19
समाव् एतौ मतौ राजन् पतिः सख्याश्च यः पतिः समं विवाह इत्याहुः सख्या मे ऽसि पतिर्यतः
samāv etau matau rājan patiḥ sakhyāśca yaḥ patiḥ samaṃ vivāha ityāhuḥ sakhyā me 'si patiryataḥ
"These two are held to be the same, O king: a husband, and one who is the husband of a (woman's) friend. They say marriage is a shared thing; since you are my friend's husband, (you are mine).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 31.20
दातव्यं याचमानस्य हीति मे व्रतमाहितम् त्वं च याचसि कामं मां ब्रूहि किं करवाणि तत्
dātavyaṃ yācamānasya hīti me vratamāhitam tvaṃ ca yācasi kāmaṃ māṃ brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi tat
"'It must be given to one who asks' — that is the vow I have taken. And you ask; tell me your desire: what shall I do?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.21
अधर्मात्त्राहि मां राजन् धर्मं च प्रतिपादय त्वत्तो ऽपत्यवती लोके चरेयं धर्ममुत्तमम्
adharmāttrāhi māṃ rājan dharmaṃ ca pratipādaya tvatto 'patyavatī loke careyaṃ dharmamuttamam
"Save me from unrighteousness, O king, and set me in righteousness. Having offspring by you, I would practise the highest duty in the world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.22
त्रय एवाधना राजन् भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः यत्ते समधिगच्छन्ति यस्य ते तस्य तद्धनम्
traya evādhanā rājan bhāryā dāsastathā sutaḥ yatte samadhigacchanti yasya te tasya taddhanam
"Three have no property, O king: a wife, a slave, and likewise a son. Whatever they acquire is the property of him to whom they belong.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.23
देवयान्या भुजिष्यास्मि वश्या च तव भार्गवी सा चाहं च त्वया राजन् भरणीयां भजस्व माम्
devayānyā bhujiṣyāsmi vaśyā ca tava bhārgavī sā cāhaṃ ca tvayā rājan bharaṇīyāṃ bhajasva mām
"I am Devayānī's servant, and Bhārgavī (Devayānī) herself is subject to you. Both she and I are to be maintained by you, O king; take me to yourself."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.24
एवमुक्तस्तया राजा तथ्यम् इत्यभिजज्ञिवान् पूजयामास शर्मिष्ठां धर्मं च प्रतिपादयन्
evamuktastayā rājā tathyam ityabhijajñivān pūjayāmāsa śarmiṣṭhāṃ dharmaṃ ca pratipādayan
Thus addressed by her, the king, recognizing it as true, honoured Śarmiṣṭhā, and granted (her request as) dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.25
स समागम्य शर्मिष्ठां यथाकाममवाप्य च अन्योन्यं चाभिसंपूज्य जग्मतुस्तौ यथागतम्
sa samāgamya śarmiṣṭhāṃ yathākāmamavāpya ca anyonyaṃ cābhisaṃpūjya jagmatustau yathāgatam
He united with Śarmiṣṭhā and obtained (his) pleasure as he wished; and having honoured each other, the two went as they had come.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.26
तस्मिन्समागमे सुभ्रूः शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी लेभे गर्भं प्रथमतस् तस्मान्नृपतिसत्तमात्
tasminsamāgame subhrūḥ śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī lebhe garbhaṃ prathamatas tasmānnṛpatisattamāt
At that union the fair-browed Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, first conceived a child by that best of kings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 31.27
प्रजज्ञे च ततः काले राज्ञी राजीवलोचना कुमारं देवगर्भाभम् आदित्यसमतेजसम्
prajajñe ca tataḥ kāle rājñī rājīvalocanā kumāraṃ devagarbhābham ādityasamatejasam
And then in due time that lotus-eyed queen gave birth to a boy who shone like a child of the gods, with splendour equal to the sun's.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition