Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

*अष्टक उवाच आतिष्ठस्व रथं राजन् विक्रमस्व विहायसा वयमप्यनुयास्यामो यदा कालो भविष्यति //

Transliteration

*aṣṭaka uvāca ātiṣṭhasva rathaṃ rājan vikramasva vihāyasā vayamapyanuyāsyāmo yadā kālo bhaviṣyati //

Translation

Aṣṭaka said: “Mount the chariot, O King; depart through the sky. We too shall follow after you, when the appointed time arrives.”

Word by Word

• अष्टकः (aṣṭakaḥ): Aṣṭaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• आतिष्ठस्व (ātiṣṭhasva): mount, ascend

• रथम् (ratham): the chariot

• राजन् (rājan): O king

• विक्रमस्व (vikramasva): set forth, stride onward

• विहायसा (vihāyasā): through the sky, by the aerial path

• वयम् अपि (vayam api): we also

• अनुयास्यामः (anuyāsyāmaḥ): shall follow

• यदा (yadā): when

• कालः (kālaḥ): time, the destined moment

• भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati): will come, will be.

Speaker

• Aṣṭaka

Entities Mentioned

• Aṣṭaka
• King (Rājan)

Tags

• Royal counsel
• Aerial chariot
• Destiny (Kāla)
• Puranic narrative
• Departure/ascension

FAQs

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

It does not describe Pralaya directly; it emphasizes Kāla (the destined time) and a heavenward/aerial departure, reflecting the Purāṇic idea that major transitions occur according to cosmic timing.

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

The king is urged to act decisively—“mount the chariot, depart”—suggesting readiness to follow dharma and destiny without delay, a recurring Purāṇic expectation of rulers facing ordained transitions with composure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or ritual procedure is specified; the technical motif is the aerial movement “through the sky,” a narrative element often associated with divine/extraordinary conveyances rather than temple-building rules.