Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Dialogue: Seniority

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच अहं ययातिर्नहुषस्य पुत्रः पूरोः पिता सर्वभूतावमानात् प्रभ्रंशितो ऽहं सुरसिद्धलोकात् परिच्युतः प्रपताम्यल्पपुण्यः //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca ahaṃ yayātirnahuṣasya putraḥ pūroḥ pitā sarvabhūtāvamānāt prabhraṃśito 'haṃ surasiddhalokāt paricyutaḥ prapatāmyalpapuṇyaḥ //

Translation

Yayāti said: “I am Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, the father of Pūru. Because I held all beings in contempt, I have fallen from the realm of the gods and the siddhas; cast down from there, I now plunge downward—one of little merit.”},{

Word by Word

• ययातिः: Yayāti

• उवाच: said

• अहम्: I

• नहुषस्य: of Nahuṣa

• पुत्रः: son

• पूरोः: of Pūru

• पिता: father

• सर्वभूत-अवमानात्: due to contempt/insult toward all beings

• प्रभ्रंशितः: fallen down

• अहम्: I

• सुरसिद्ध-लोकात्: from the realm/world of gods (suras) and siddhas

• परिच्युतः: cast down, dislodged

• प्रपतामि: I fall/plunge downward

• अल्प-पुण्यः: of little merit, with diminished merit.

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Nahuṣa
• Pūru
• Suras (gods)
• Siddhas

Tags

• Dynasties
• Karma
• Fall from Heaven
• Ethics
• Royal Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it teaches karmic causality—insulting living beings leads to loss of merit and a fall from higher realms.

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

It frames a core dharmic duty—non-contempt and respectful conduct toward all beings. For a king especially, arrogance and disregard for subjects or creatures is shown as a cause of moral and spiritual downfall.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the focus is genealogical identity and the ethical cause of a fall from celestial status.