Shloka 66

Matsya Purana — Paurava Genealogy: Bharata

Devanagari script

*जनमेजय उवाच अरे पापा दुराचारा भवितारो ऽस्य किंकराः तथेत्युक्तस्ततो राजा यमेन युयुधे चिरम् //

Transliteration

*janamejaya uvāca are pāpā durācārā bhavitāro 'sya kiṃkarāḥ tathetyuktastato rājā yamena yuyudhe ciram //

Translation

Janamejaya said: “O sinful men of wicked conduct—will you become his servants?” Thus addressed, the king then fought with Yama for a long time.

Word by Word

• janamejayaḥ: King Janamejaya

• uvāca: said

• are: hey!/O! (vocative exclamation)

• pāpāḥ: sinners

• durācārāḥ: of evil conduct

• bhavitāraḥ: will become/shall be

• asya: of him/this one

• kiṅkarāḥ: servants/attendants

• tathā iti: ‘so be it’

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to/being addressed

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• rājā: the king

• yamena: with Yama (Lord of Death)

• yuyudhe: fought/battled

• ciram: for a long time.

Speaker

• King Janamejaya

Entities Mentioned

• Janamejaya
• Yama

Tags

• Yama
• Afterlife
• Sin
• Kingship
• Retribution

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on moral accountability and confrontation with Yama, emphasizing consequences of sinful conduct rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By portraying a king directly contending with Yama over the fate of wrongdoers, the verse underscores royal responsibility to confront adharma and the inevitability of moral law—kings and householders alike are bound by ethical conduct and its results.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; its significance is ethical and narrative, centering on sin (pāpa), misconduct (durācāra), and Yama’s authority.