Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच ययातिरस्मि नहुषस्य पुत्रः पूरोः पिता सार्वभौमस्त्विहासम् गुह्यं मन्त्रं मामकेभ्यो ब्रवीमि मातामहो भवतां सुप्रकाशः //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca yayātirasmi nahuṣasya putraḥ pūroḥ pitā sārvabhaumastvihāsam guhyaṃ mantraṃ māmakebhyo bravīmi mātāmaho bhavatāṃ suprakāśaḥ //

Translation

Yayāti said: “I am Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, the father of Pūru, and a universal sovereign. Here I shall declare to my own people a secret counsel—for your maternal grandfather is illustrious and well-renowned.”

Word by Word

• ययातिः उवाच: Yayāti said

• ययातिः अस्मि: I am Yayāti

• नहुषस्य पुत्रः: son of Nahuṣa

• पूरोः पिता: father of Pūru

• सार्वभौमः: universal monarch/overlord

• तु इह: indeed, here

• आसम्/इहासम् (पाठभेद): this account/this tradition (as intended sense)

• गुह्यं मन्त्रं: secret counsel/hidden instruction

• मामकेभ्यः: to my own (kinsmen/people)

• ब्रवीमि: I speak/declare

• मातामहः: maternal grandfather

• भवताम्: of you (plural)

• सुप्रकाशः: very famous, clearly renowned/illustrious

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Nahuṣa
• Pūru

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Royal Lineage
• Rajadharma
• Puranic Narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it situates the narrative in royal genealogy, identifying Yayāti’s lineage and framing a “secret counsel” to be disclosed.

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

By presenting Yayāti as a sārvabhauma (universal sovereign) who gives a “guhya mantra” (confidential counsel) to his own people, the verse highlights a king’s role as guardian of dynastic continuity, political instruction, and prudent, context-sensitive guidance.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu Shastra, temple architecture rule, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its focus is genealogical identification and the announcement of confidential instruction.