Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच ते ऽभिरुह्य रथान्सर्वे प्रयाता नृपते नृपाः आक्रामन्तो दिवं भान्ति धर्मेणावृत्य रोदसी //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca te 'bhiruhya rathānsarve prayātā nṛpate nṛpāḥ ākrāmanto divaṃ bhānti dharmeṇāvṛtya rodasī //

Translation

Śaunaka said: O King, those kings—having all mounted their chariots and set forth—stride into heaven shining, as though they have covered the two worlds (earth and sky) with righteousness (dharma).

Word by Word

• śaunakaḥ: Śaunaka

• uvāca: said

• te: they/those

• abhiruhya: having mounted

• rathān: chariots

• sarve: all

• prayātāḥ: departed/set forth

• nṛpate: O king

• nṛpāḥ: kings

• ākrāmantaḥ: striding/stepping forth

• divam: heaven

• bhānti: shine/appear radiant

• dharmeṇa: by/with dharma (righteousness)

• āvṛtya: having covered/veiled/filled

• rodasī: the two worlds (earth and sky)

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• nṛpāḥ (kings)
• diva (heaven)
• dharma

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Dharma
• Svarga
• Kingship
• Punya (merit)

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it emphasizes the posthumous destiny of righteous rulers—dharma leads them to a radiant heavenly ascent.

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

It frames kingship as a dharmic vocation: a king who governs by righteousness gains spiritual merit so great it is poetically said to ‘cover’ the worlds, culminating in heavenly attainment.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No direct Vastu/ritual procedure is stated; the key takeaway is ethical—dharma itself is portrayed as the king’s true ‘vehicle’ to higher realms.