Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Yayati and Indra: Counsel on Forbearance and Right Speech

Devanagari script

स कदाचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठो ययातिः शक्रमागतः कथान्ते तत्र शक्रेण पृष्टः स पृथिवीपतिः //

Transliteration

sa kadācinnṛpaśreṣṭho yayātiḥ śakramāgataḥ kathānte tatra śakreṇa pṛṣṭaḥ sa pṛthivīpatiḥ //

Translation

Once, that best of kings—Yayāti—went to Śakra (Indra). At the close of their discourse there, Śakra questioned the lord of the earth.

Word by Word

• स (sa): he/that

• कदाचित् (kadācit): at some time/once

• नृपश्रेष्ठः (nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ): the best of kings

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): King Yayāti

• शक्रम् (śakram): Śakra/Indra

• आगतः (āgataḥ): went/arrived

• कथान्ते (kathānte): at the end of the conversation/at the conclusion of the account

• तत्र (tatra): there

• शक्रेण (śakreṇa): by Śakra/Indra

• पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ): asked/questioned

• स (sa): that/he

• पृथिवीपतिः (pṛthivīpatiḥ): lord of the earth/king

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the episode

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Śakra (Indra)

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Kingship
• Devas
• Dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it introduces a royal-epic setting where King Yayāti reaches Indra and a moral or doctrinal question is about to be posed.

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

By placing a human king in dialogue with Indra, the verse frames kingship as accountable to higher standards—suggesting that royal conduct (rājadharma) is to be examined, questioned, and aligned with dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it functions as a narrative transition into Indra’s questioning, which may lead to ethical or cosmological instruction in subsequent verses.