Matsya Purana — Chapter 32

MtP 32.1

श्रुत्वा कुमारं जातं सा देवयानी शुचिस्मिता चिन्तयाविष्टदुःखार्ता शर्मिष्ठां प्रति भारत

śrutvā kumāraṃ jātaṃ sā devayānī śucismitā cintayāviṣṭaduḥkhārtā śarmiṣṭhāṃ prati bhārata

Hearing that a boy had been born, that Devayānī of the bright smile was filled with brooding and stricken with grief regarding Śarmiṣṭhā, O Bhārata.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.2

ततो ऽभिगम्य शर्मिष्ठां देवयान्यब्रवीदिदम् किमर्थं वृजिनं सुभ्रूः कृतं ते कामलुब्धया

tato 'bhigamya śarmiṣṭhāṃ devayānyabravīdidam kimarthaṃ vṛjinaṃ subhrūḥ kṛtaṃ te kāmalubdhayā

Then, approaching Śarmiṣṭhā, Devayānī said this: "For what purpose, fair-browed one, has this wrong been done by you, greedy for pleasure?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.3

ऋषिर् अभ्यागतः कश्चिद् धर्मात्मा वेदपारगः स मया तु वरः कामं याचितो धर्मसंहतम्

ṛṣir abhyāgataḥ kaścid dharmātmā vedapāragaḥ sa mayā tu varaḥ kāmaṃ yācito dharmasaṃhatam

"A certain sage came here, a man of righteous nature, who had gone to the far shore of the Vedas; by me he was asked for a boon—desire in accord with dharma."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 32.4

नाहमन्यायतः कामम् आचरामि शुचिस्मिते तस्माद् ऋषेर् ममापत्यम् इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते

nāhamanyāyataḥ kāmam ācarāmi śucismite tasmād ṛṣer mamāpatyam iti satyaṃ bravīmi te

"I do not pursue pleasure contrary to what is right, O bright-smiling one; therefore my child is from that sage—this truth I tell you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.5

पद्येतदेवं शर्मिष्ठे न मन्युर्विद्यते मम अपत्यं यदि ते लब्धं ज्येष्ठाच्छ्रेष्ठाच्च वै द्विजात्

padyetadevaṃ śarmiṣṭhe na manyurvidyate mama apatyaṃ yadi te labdhaṃ jyeṣṭhācchreṣṭhācca vai dvijāt

"If this is so, Śarmiṣṭhā, I feel no anger, if the child was obtained by you from a twice-born who is senior and superior."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.6

शोभनं भीरु सत्यं चेत् कथं स ज्ञायते द्विजः गोत्रनामाभिजनतः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तं द्विजम्

śobhanaṃ bhīru satyaṃ cet kathaṃ sa jñāyate dvijaḥ gotranāmābhijanataḥ śrotumicchāmi taṃ dvijam

"Good, timid one, if it is the truth; but how is that twice-born one to be known? I wish to hear of that twice-born by clan, name and family."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.7

ओजसा तेजसा चैव दीप्यमानं रविं यथा तं दृष्ट्वा मम संप्रष्टुं शक्तिर् नासीच्छुचिस्मिते

ojasā tejasā caiva dīpyamānaṃ raviṃ yathā taṃ dṛṣṭvā mama saṃpraṣṭuṃ śaktir nāsīcchucismite

"Seeing him blazing with vigour and splendour like the sun, I had no power to question him, O bright-smiling one."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.8

अन्योन्यमेवम् उक्त्वा च सम्प्रहस्य च ते मिथः जगाम भार्गवी वेश्म तथ्यमित्यभिजानती

anyonyamevam uktvā ca samprahasya ca te mithaḥ jagāma bhārgavī veśma tathyamityabhijānatī

Having spoken thus to each other and laughed together, the daughter of Bhṛgu went to her dwelling, accepting it as true.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.9

ययातिर्देवयान्यां तु पुत्राव् अजनयन्नृपः यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव शक्रविष्णू इवापरौ

yayātirdevayānyāṃ tu putrāv ajanayannṛpaḥ yaduṃ ca turvasuṃ caiva śakraviṣṇū ivāparau

But King Yayāti begot on Devayānī two sons, Yadu and Turvasu, like a second Śakra and Viṣṇu.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.10

तस्मादेव तु राजर्षेः शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी द्रुह्यं चानुं च पूरुं च त्रीन्कुमारानजीजनत्

tasmādeva tu rājarṣeḥ śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī druhyaṃ cānuṃ ca pūruṃ ca trīnkumārānajījanat

And by that same royal sage Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, bore three sons: Druhya, Anu and Pūru.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.11

ततः काले च कस्मिंश्चिद् देवयानी शुचिस्मिता ययातिसहिता राजञ् जगाम हरितं वनम्

tataḥ kāle ca kasmiṃścid devayānī śucismitā yayātisahitā rājañ jagāma haritaṃ vanam

Then at some time, O king, Devayānī of the bright smile went, together with Yayāti, to a green grove.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.12

ददर्श च तदा तत्र कुमारान्देवरूपिणः क्रीडमानान् तु विस्रब्धान् विस्मिता चेदमब्रवीत्

dadarśa ca tadā tatra kumārāndevarūpiṇaḥ krīḍamānān tu visrabdhān vismitā cedamabravīt

And there she then saw boys of divine form playing without restraint, and astonished she said this:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.13

कस्यैते दारका राजन् देवपुत्रोपमाः शुभाः वर्चसा रूपतश्चैव दृश्यन्ते सदृशास्तव

kasyaite dārakā rājan devaputropamāḥ śubhāḥ varcasā rūpataścaiva dṛśyante sadṛśāstava

"Whose are these fine children, O king, like sons of the gods? In lustre and in form they look like you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.14

एवं पृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कुमारान्पर्यपृच्छत किं नामधेयगोत्रे वः पुत्रका ब्राह्मणः पिता

evaṃ pṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kumārānparyapṛcchata kiṃ nāmadheyagotre vaḥ putrakā brāhmaṇaḥ pitā

Having asked the king thus, she questioned the boys: "What is your name and lineage, children? Is your father a brahmin?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.15

विब्रूत मे यथातथ्यं श्रोतुकामास्म्यतो ह्य् अहम् ते ऽदर्शयन्प्रदेशिन्या तमेव नृपसत्तमम्

vibrūta me yathātathyaṃ śrotukāmāsmyato hy aham te 'darśayanpradeśinyā tameva nṛpasattamam

"Tell me truly, for I wish to hear of it." They pointed with the forefinger to that very best of kings,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.16

शर्मिष्ठां मातरं चैव तस्या ऊचुः कुमारकाः इत्युक्त्वा सहितास्तेन राजानम् उपचक्रमुः

śarmiṣṭhāṃ mātaraṃ caiva tasyā ūcuḥ kumārakāḥ ityuktvā sahitāstena rājānam upacakramuḥ

and the boys spoke of Śarmiṣṭhā as their mother, and of him as hers; having said this, together with him they approached the king.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 32.17

नाभ्यनन्दत तान्राजा देवयान्यास् तदान्तिके रुदन्तस्ते ऽथ शर्मिष्ठाम् अभ्ययुर् बालकास्तदा

nābhyanandata tānrājā devayānyās tadāntike rudantaste 'tha śarmiṣṭhām abhyayur bālakāstadā

The king did not welcome them in Devayānī's presence; then those boys, weeping, went to Śarmiṣṭhā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.18

दृष्ट्वा तेषां तु बालानां प्रणयं पार्थिवं प्रति बुद्ध्वा च तत्त्वतो देवी शर्मिष्ठामिदमब्रवीत्

dṛṣṭvā teṣāṃ tu bālānāṃ praṇayaṃ pārthivaṃ prati buddhvā ca tattvato devī śarmiṣṭhāmidamabravīt

But seeing the affection of those boys toward the king, and understanding it as it truly was, the lady said this to Śarmiṣṭhā:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.19

मदधीना सती कस्माद् अकार्षीर्विप्रियं मम तमेवासुरधर्मं त्वम् आस्थिता न बिभेषि किम्

madadhīnā satī kasmād akārṣīrvipriyaṃ mama tamevāsuradharmaṃ tvam āsthitā na bibheṣi kim

"Being subject to me, why did you do what is displeasing to me? Adhering to that very demon-way, are you not afraid?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.20

यदुक्तमृषिरित्येव तत्सत्यं चारुहासिनि न्यायतो धर्मतश्चैव चरन्ती न बिभेमि ते

yaduktamṛṣirityeva tatsatyaṃ cāruhāsini nyāyato dharmataścaiva carantī na bibhemi te

"What was said—that he is a sage—that is true, O sweet-smiling one; acting by rule and by dharma, I do not fear you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 32.21

यदा त्वया वृतो राजा वृत एव तदा मया सखीभर्ता हि धर्मेण भर्ता भवति शोभने

yadā tvayā vṛto rājā vṛta eva tadā mayā sakhībhartā hi dharmeṇa bhartā bhavati śobhane

"When the king was chosen by you, then he was chosen by me as well; for by dharma a friend's husband becomes (one's own) husband, O beautiful one."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.22

पूज्यासि मम मान्या च श्रेष्ठा ज्येष्ठा च ब्राह्मणी त्वत्तो हि मे पूज्यतरो राजर्षिः किं न वेत्सि तत्

pūjyāsi mama mānyā ca śreṣṭhā jyeṣṭhā ca brāhmaṇī tvatto hi me pūjyataro rājarṣiḥ kiṃ na vetsi tat

"You are for me one to be revered and honored, superior, elder, and a brahmin woman; but the royal sage is more to be revered by me than you—do you not know that?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.23

श्रुत्वा तस्यास्ततो वाक्यं देवयान्यब्रवीद् इदम् राजन्नाद्येह वत्स्यामि विप्रियं मे त्वया कृतम्

śrutvā tasyāstato vākyaṃ devayānyabravīd idam rājannādyeha vatsyāmi vipriyaṃ me tvayā kṛtam

Then, having heard her words, Devayānī said this: "O king, I will not stay here today; a wrong has been done to me by you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.24

सहसोत्पतितां श्यामां दृष्ट्वा तां साश्रुलोचनाम् तूर्णं सकाशं काव्यस्य प्रस्थितां व्यथितस्तदा

sahasotpatitāṃ śyāmāṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ sāśrulocanām tūrṇaṃ sakāśaṃ kāvyasya prasthitāṃ vyathitastadā

Seeing her, the dark-hued one, having sprung up all at once with tears in her eyes and setting out swiftly for the presence of Kāvya, he was then distressed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.25

अनुवव्राज संभ्रान्तः पृष्ठतः सान्त्वयन्नृपः न्यवर्तत न सा चैव क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना

anuvavrāja saṃbhrāntaḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ sāntvayannṛpaḥ nyavartata na sā caiva krodhasaṃraktalocanā

Confounded, the king followed after her from behind, trying to soothe her; but she did not turn back, her eyes red with anger.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.26

अविब्रुवन्ती किंचिच्च राजानं साश्रुलोचना अचिरादेव सम्प्राप्ता काव्यस्योशनसो ऽन्तिकम्

avibruvantī kiṃcicca rājānaṃ sāśrulocanā acirādeva samprāptā kāvyasyośanaso 'ntikam

And saying nothing at all to the king, with tears in her eyes, in no long time she reached the presence of Kāvya Uśanas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.27

सा तु दृष्ट्वैव पितरम् अभिवाद्याग्रतः स्थिता अनन्तरं ययातिस्तु पूजयामास भार्गवम्

sā tu dṛṣṭvaiva pitaram abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitā anantaraṃ yayātistu pūjayāmāsa bhārgavam

As soon as she saw her father she saluted him and stood before him; and right after, Yayāti paid honor to the Bhārgava.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.28

अधर्मेण जितो धर्मः प्रवृत्तमधरोत्तरम् शर्मिष्ठा यातिवृत्तास्ति दुहिता वृषपर्वणः

adharmeṇa jito dharmaḥ pravṛttamadharottaram śarmiṣṭhā yātivṛttāsti duhitā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

"Dharma has been defeated by adharma; what has come about has adharma uppermost. Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, has overstepped (proper) conduct."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MtP 32.29

त्रयो ऽस्यां जनिताः पुत्रा राज्ञानेन ययातिना दुर्भगाया मम द्वौ तु पुत्रौ तात ब्रवीमि ते

trayo 'syāṃ janitāḥ putrā rājñānena yayātinā durbhagāyā mama dvau tu putrau tāta bravīmi te

"Three sons have been begotten in her by this king Yayāti; but I, ill-fated, have only two sons, father—so I tell you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.30

धर्मज्ञ इति विख्यात एष राजा भृगूद्वह अतिक्रान्तश्च मर्यादां काव्यैतत्कथयामि ते

dharmajña iti vikhyāta eṣa rājā bhṛgūdvaha atikrāntaśca maryādāṃ kāvyaitatkathayāmi te

"This king is famed as one who knows dharma, O scion of Bhṛgu, yet he has transgressed the bounds; Kāvya, this I report to you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.31

धर्मज्ञस्त्वं महाराज यो ऽधर्मम् अकृथाः प्रियम् तस्माज्जरा त्वाम् अचिराद् धर्षयिष्यति दुर्जया

dharmajñastvaṃ mahārāja yo 'dharmam akṛthāḥ priyam tasmājjarā tvām acirād dharṣayiṣyati durjayā

"You are a knower of dharma, great king, and yet you did adharma for the sake of pleasure; therefore old age, hard to overcome, will soon assail you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.32

ऋतुं यो याच्यमानाया न ददाति पुमान्वृतः भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते ब्रह्मन् स चेह ब्रह्मवादिभिः

ṛtuṃ yo yācyamānāyā na dadāti pumānvṛtaḥ bhrūṇahetyucyate brahman sa ceha brahmavādibhiḥ

"A man who, having been chosen, does not grant her fertile season to a woman who asks for it—he is called a slayer of the embryo here by those who speak of brahman, O brahmin."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.33

ऋतुकामां स्त्रियं यस्तु गम्यां रहसि याचितः नोपैति यो हि धर्मेण ब्रह्महेत्युच्यते बुधैः

ṛtukāmāṃ striyaṃ yastu gamyāṃ rahasi yācitaḥ nopaiti yo hi dharmeṇa brahmahetyucyate budhaiḥ

"And whoever, asked in private, does not go to a woman who desires (union) in her season and who is permissible by dharma—he is called a slayer of a brahmin by the wise."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.34

इत्येतानि समीक्ष्याहं कारणानि भृगूद्वह अधर्मभयसंविग्नः शर्मिष्ठाम् उपजग्मिवान्

ityetāni samīkṣyāhaṃ kāraṇāni bhṛgūdvaha adharmabhayasaṃvignaḥ śarmiṣṭhām upajagmivān

"Considering these reasons, O scion of Bhṛgu, alarmed by the fear of adharma, I went to Śarmiṣṭhā."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.35

न त्व् अहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनो ऽसि पार्थिव मिथ्याचरणधर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष

na tv ahaṃ pratyavekṣyaste madadhīno 'si pārthiva mithyācaraṇadharmeṣu cauryaṃ bhavati nāhuṣa

"But I am not one to be disregarded by you; you are subject to me, O king; false conduct in matters of dharma amounts to theft, O son of Nahuṣa."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.36

क्रोधेनोशनसा शप्तो ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा पूर्वं वयः परित्यज्य जरां सद्यो ऽन्वपद्यत

krodhenośanasā śapto yayātirnāhuṣastadā pūrvaṃ vayaḥ parityajya jarāṃ sadyo 'nvapadyata

Cursed thus in anger by Uśanas, Yayāti the son of Nahuṣa gave up his former (youthful) age and at once came into old age.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.37

अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मञ् जरेयं मा विशेत माम्

atṛpto yauvanasyāhaṃ devayānyāṃ bhṛgūdvaha prasādaṃ kuru me brahmañ jareyaṃ mā viśeta mām

"I am not sated with youth nor with Devayānī, O scion of Bhṛgu; show me favour, O brahmin — let this old age not enter me."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.38

नाहं मृषा वदाम्येतज् जरां प्राप्तो ऽसि भूमिप जरां त्व् एतां त्वमन्यस्मिन् संक्रामय यदीच्छसि

nāhaṃ mṛṣā vadāmyetaj jarāṃ prāpto 'si bhūmipa jarāṃ tv etāṃ tvamanyasmin saṃkrāmaya yadīcchasi

"I do not speak this falsely: you have attained old age, O lord of the earth. But you may transfer this old age to another, if you wish."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.39

राज्यभाक् स भवेद्ब्रह्मन् पुण्यभाक्कीर्तिभाक्तथा यो दद्यान्मे वयः पुत्रस् तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्

rājyabhāk sa bhavedbrahman puṇyabhākkīrtibhāktathā yo dadyānme vayaḥ putras tadbhavānanumanyatām

"O brahmin, may that son who would give me his youth become a sharer of the kingdom, a sharer of merit, and a sharer of fame — let your honour consent to that."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.40

संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां यथेष्टं नहुषात्मज मामनुध्याय तत्त्वेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि

saṃkrāmayiṣyasi jarāṃ yatheṣṭaṃ nahuṣātmaja māmanudhyāya tattvena na ca pāpamavāpsyasi

"You shall transfer the old age as you wish, O son of Nahuṣa, keeping me truly in mind; and you will incur no sin."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MtP 32.41

वयो दास्यति ते पुत्रो यः स राजा भविष्यति आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव बह्वपत्यस् तथैव च

vayo dāsyati te putro yaḥ sa rājā bhaviṣyati āyuṣmānkīrtimāṃścaiva bahvapatyas tathaiva ca

"The son who gives you his youth, he shall become king, long-lived and famous, and likewise having many offspring."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition