Shloka 8

ययाति–अष्टक–प्रतर्दन संवादः | Yayāti’s Dialogue with Aṣṭaka and Pratardana on Merit, Gifts, and Ethical Restraint

Devanagari script

देवराजसमो हासीद्‌ ययाति: पृथिवीपति: । वर्धन: कुरुवंशस्य विभावसुसमद्युति:,कुरुवंशकी वृद्धि करनेवाले, अग्निके समान तेजस्वी राजा ययाति देवराज इन्द्रके समान थे

Transliteration

devarājasamo hāsīd yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | vardhanaḥ kuruvaṃśasya vibhāvasusamadyutiḥ ||

Translation

Janamejaya sprach: „König Yayāti, Herr der Erde, war dem Götterkönig (Indra) gleich. Er mehrte das Geschlecht der Kuru und strahlte in einem Glanz, der Vibhāvasu (Agni) ebenbürtig war.“

Word by Word

देवराजसमःequal to the king of gods (Indra)

हindeed/for emphasis

आसीत्was

ययातिःYayāti

पृथिवीपतिःlord of the earth, king

वर्धनःincreaser, promoter

कुरुवंशस्यof the Kuru lineage

विभावसुसमद्युतिःwhose splendor is like Vibhāvasu (Agni)

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janamejaya

Yayāti

Indra (Devarāja)

Agni (Vibhāvasu)

Kuru dynasty (Kuruvaṃśa)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ideal kingship as both divine-like excellence and responsibility toward posterity: a ruler’s greatness is measured not only by personal brilliance but by how he strengthens and sustains the lineage and social order entrusted to him.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya describes King Yayāti in laudatory terms—comparing him to Indra in stature and to Agni in radiance—while emphasizing that Yayāti was a key figure who advanced the growth and prominence of the Kuru dynasty.