Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Yayāti and the Kings’ Dialogue on Heavenly Worlds

Devanagari script

*अष्टक उवाच न चेदेकैकशो राजंल् लोकान्नः प्रतिनन्दसि सर्वे प्रदाय तांल्लोकान् गन्तारो नरकं वयम् //

Transliteration

*aṣṭaka uvāca na cedekaikaśo rājaṃl lokānnaḥ pratinandasi sarve pradāya tāṃllokān gantāro narakaṃ vayam //

Translation

Aṣṭaka said: “O King, if you do not acknowledge and approve the worlds for us one by one, then, after granting those worlds away, we shall all go to hell.”

Word by Word

• अष्टक (Aṣṭaka): Aṣṭaka (a person/ancestor)

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• न चेत् (na cet): if not

• एकैकशः (ekaikaśaḥ): one by one, individually

• राजन् (rājan): O king

• लोकान् (lokān): worlds/realms (heavenly abodes, stations of merit)

• नः (naḥ): for us/our

• प्रतिनन्दसि (pratinandasi): you approve, acknowledge, assent to, confirm

• सर्वे (sarve): all (of us)

• प्रदाय (pradāya): having given/granted away

• तान् (tān): those

• लोकान् (lokān): worlds/realms

• गन्तारः (gantāraḥ): will go

• नरकम् (narakam): hell

• वयम् (vayam): we.

Speaker

• Aṣṭaka

Entities Mentioned

• Aṣṭaka
• Rājan (King)

Tags

• Pitrloka
• Dana (gift)
• Karmaphala
• Royal duty
• Hospitality

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on karmic consequence (naraka) tied to confirming or withholding promised “lokas” (realms) in an ethical-ritual context.

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

It frames a king’s duty as upholding truthfulness and proper assent in matters of gifts/boons—failure to duly confirm what is due can lead to grave demerit for the parties involved, highlighting the importance of keeping vows and honoring rightful claims.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or iconographic rule appears here; the ritual-ethical point is about the correct validation of granted “lokas” (fruits of merit), implying that gifts and promised outcomes must be properly acknowledged to avoid negative karmic results.