Shloka 9

Matsya Purana — Duties of the Four Āśramas and the Power of Mauna

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच अरण्ये वसतो यस्य ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः ग्रामे वा वसतो ऽरण्यं स मुनिः स्याज्जनाधिप //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca araṇye vasato yasya grāmo bhavati pṛṣṭhataḥ grāme vā vasato 'raṇyaṃ sa muniḥ syājjanādhipa //

Translation

Yayāti said: “O lord of men, he is truly a sage—whether he lives in the forest with the village left behind him, or lives in the village yet keeps the forest within as his inner state.”

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): King Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• अरण्ये (araṇye): in the forest

• वसतः (vasataḥ): of one dwelling

• यस्य (yasya): whose

• ग्रामः (grāmaḥ): village/settlement

• भवति (bhavati): becomes/is

• पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ): behind/at the back (left behind)

• ग्रामे (grāme): in the village

• वा (vā): or

• वसतः (vasataḥ): of one dwelling

• अरण्यम् (araṇyam): forest/wilderness

• सः (saḥ): he

• मुनिः (muniḥ): sage

• स्यात् (syāt): would be/is (truly)

• जनाधिप (janādhipa): O ruler of people/king

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Janādhipa (a king/ruler addressed)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Sannyasa
• Vanaprastha
• Detachment
• Ethics

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it defines a “true sage” by inner detachment rather than by physical location (forest vs. village).

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

It teaches that a king should honor genuine renunciants by their freedom from attachment, and that a householder can cultivate “forest-like” restraint and simplicity even while living in a town.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated directly; the practical takeaway is ethical—spiritual life is measured by inner renunciation, not by outward setting.