Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच अनो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह एकं वर्षसहस्रं तु चरेयं यौवनेन ते //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca ano tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha ekaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu careyaṃ yauvanena te //

Translation

Yayāti said: “O Anu, take upon yourself this sin together with my old age; and with your youth I shall live for a thousand years.”

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): King Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• अनो/अनु (ano/anu): O Anu (son of Yayāti)

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• प्रतिपद्यस्व (pratipadyasva): accept, take upon yourself

• पाप्मानम् (pāpmānam): sin, demerit (the moral burden of the act)

• जरया (jarayā): with old age

• सह (saha): together with

• एकम् (ekam): one

• वर्षसहस्रम् (varṣa-sahasram): a thousand years

• तु (tu): indeed, then

• चरेयम् (careyam): I would live/continue (to conduct life)

• यौवनेन (yauvanena): with youth

• ते (te): your

Speaker

• King Yayati

Entities Mentioned

• Yayati
• Anu

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Dharma
• Royal Ethics
• Karma

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on a dynastic-ethical episode where Yayāti seeks to transfer old age and its moral burden to Anu in exchange for youth.

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

It highlights the tension between royal/householder desire and dharma: a king’s pursuit of prolonged enjoyment can create moral consequences (pāpmāna) and raises questions about responsibility and the ethics of shifting one’s burdens onto others.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra, temple architecture, or ritual procedure is mentioned in this verse; it is part of the Yayāti narrative within the Matsya Purana’s genealogical and moral discourse.