Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Yayāti and His Sons: The Exchange of Youth and Old Age

Devanagari script

संकीर्णाश्चोरधर्मेषु प्रतिलोमचरेषु च पिशिताशिषु लोकेषु नूनं राजा भविष्यसि //

Transliteration

saṃkīrṇāścoradharmeṣu pratilomacareṣu ca piśitāśiṣu lokeṣu nūnaṃ rājā bhaviṣyasi //

Translation

When society is muddled in the ways of thieves, when people live by inverted conduct, and when the world is filled with flesh-eaters—then, indeed, you will become a king.

Word by Word

• saṃkīrṇāḥ: confused, mixed up

• cora-dharmeṣu: in the practices/laws of thieves (criminal ways)

• pratiloma-careṣu: in contrary/inverted conduct (against proper order)

• ca: and

• piśita-āśiṣu: among those who eat flesh (flesh-eaters)

• lokeṣu: in the worlds/among people

• nūnam: surely, indeed

• rājā: king

• bhaviṣyasi: you will become

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu (prophetic instruction)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Kali-yuga
• Social disorder
• Adharma
• Kingship

FAQs

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

This verse is not about cosmic dissolution; it is a social-prophetic marker, describing moral collapse (adharma) as the backdrop in which Manu is foretold to assume kingship.

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

It frames kingship as arising amid social inversion—suggesting the king’s duty is to restrain theft-like conduct, correct pratiloma behavior, and restore dharma when norms have broken down.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or ritual procedure is stated here; the focus is governance and societal ethics rather than temple-building or rites.