Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Dialogue: Seniority

Devanagari script

*अष्टक उवाच ये ये लोकाः पार्थिवेन्द्र प्रधानास् त्वया भुक्ता यं च काले यथा च तन्मे राजन्ब्रूहि सर्वं यथावत् क्षेत्रज्ञवद्भाषसे त्वं हि धर्मम् //

Transliteration

*aṣṭaka uvāca ye ye lokāḥ pārthivendra pradhānās tvayā bhuktā yaṃ ca kāle yathā ca tanme rājanbrūhi sarvaṃ yathāvat kṣetrajñavadbhāṣase tvaṃ hi dharmam //

Translation

Aṣṭaka said: “O foremost of kings, tell me in due order—exactly which worlds you have enjoyed, and at what time and in what manner. O King, explain everything to me as it truly is; for you speak of dharma like a kṣetrajña, one who knows the field (reality).”

Word by Word

• अष्टक (aṣṭaka): Aṣṭaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• ये ये (ye ye): whichever, all those

• लोकाः (lokāḥ): worlds/realms

• पार्थिवेन्द्र-प्रधानाः (pārthivendra-pradhānāḥ): foremost among earthly kings

• त्वया (tvayā): by you

• भुक्ताः (bhuktāḥ): enjoyed/experienced (as fruits of merit)

• यं च (yaṃ ca): and which/that

• काले (kāle): at the time/season

• यथा च (yathā ca): and how/in what way

• तत् (tat): that

• मे (me): to me

• राजन् (rājan): O King

• ब्रूहि (brūhi): tell/speak

• सर्वम् (sarvam): everything

• यथावत् (yathāvat): correctly, in proper sequence

• क्षेत्रज्ञवत् (kṣetrajña-vat): like a knower of the field/true discernment

• भाषसे (bhāṣase): you speak

• त्वम् (tvam): you

• हि (hi): indeed

• धर्मम् (dharmam): dharma/righteous law

Speaker

• Aṣṭaka

Entities Mentioned

• Aṣṭaka

Tags

• Dharma
• Royal discourse
• Genealogy
• Karma-phala
• Lokas (realms)

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe pralaya directly; it focuses on karmic outcomes—how a king “enjoys” particular realms (lokas) and the proper accounting of time and manner, implying a moral-cosmic order rather than dissolution.

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

It frames kingship within dharma and accountability: a ruler’s experiences of reward (lokas) are tied to righteous conduct, and truthful, orderly narration (“yathāvat”) is treated as a mark of discernment and ethical clarity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is specified in this verse; the emphasis is on dharmic discourse and the doctrine of karmic fruition across realms.