Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नौर् उपप्लवसंचारो यत्र नित्यं भविष्यति अराज्यभोजशब्दं त्वं तत्र प्राप्स्यसि सान्वयः //

Transliteration

naur upaplavasaṃcāro yatra nityaṃ bhaviṣyati arājyabhojaśabdaṃ tvaṃ tatra prāpsyasi sānvayaḥ //

Translation

Where the movement of boats amid the overwhelming flood becomes a constant occurrence, there you will encounter the cry, “O king, give us food!”—together with your people and dependents.

Word by Word

• naus (nauḥ): boat

• upaplava: overwhelming calamity/flood

• saṃcāraḥ: movement, passage, circulation

• yatra: where

• nityam: constantly, always

• bhaviṣyati: will be

• arājya-bhoja-śabdam: the utterance/cry ‘O king, food!’ (appeal for provisions to the ruler)

• tvam: you

• tatra: there

• prāpsyasi: you will meet/encounter

• sānvayaḥ: together with your lineage/retinue (your own people, dependents).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) addressing Vaivasvata Manu

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Boat (Nau)
• Pralaya (Flood)

Tags

• Pralaya
• Matsya-Avatara
• Manu
• Kingship
• Famine-Relief

FAQs

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

It depicts pralaya as a sustained, society-altering flood where boat-travel becomes routine, indicating prolonged inundation and widespread displacement.

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

The cry “O king, food!” implies the ruler’s dharma in crisis: providing sustenance and protection to subjects and dependents, especially during famine-like conditions caused by flooding.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No specific Vastu or temple-building rule appears here; the practical takeaway is logistical preparedness (boats and provisioning) as part of dharmic governance during pralaya conditions.