Shloka 20

Matsya Purana — Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Dialogue: Seniority

Devanagari script

एतावन्मे विदितं राजसिंह ततो भ्रष्टो ऽहं नन्दनात्क्षीणपुण्यः वाचो ऽश्रौषं चान्तरिक्षे सुराणाम् अनुक्रोशाच्छोचतां मां नरेन्द्र //

Transliteration

etāvanme viditaṃ rājasiṃha tato bhraṣṭo 'haṃ nandanātkṣīṇapuṇyaḥ vāco 'śrauṣaṃ cāntarikṣe surāṇām anukrośācchocatāṃ māṃ narendra //

Translation

“This much alone I knew, O lion among kings. Then, my merit being exhausted, I fell from Nandana. And in the mid-sky I heard the voices of the gods—out of compassion, lamenting for me, O king.”

Word by Word

• etāvat: this much/so far

• me: by me/to me

• viditam: known/understood

• rāja-siṃha: lion among kings (epithet for the king)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter

• bhraṣṭaḥ: fallen/deprived

• aham: I

• nandanāt: from Nandana (Indra’s pleasure-grove)

• kṣīṇa-puṇyaḥ: whose merit is spent/exhausted

• vācaḥ: voices/words

• aśrauṣam: I heard

• ca: and

• antarikṣe: in the sky/mid-air

• surāṇām: of the gods

• anukrośāt: out of compassion

• śocatām: of those grieving/lamenting

• mām: for me/about me

• narendra: O lord of men (king).

Speaker

• A fallen celestial/previously meritorious being (narrator) addressing a king (narendra/rājasiṃha) within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame

Entities Mentioned

• Nandana (Indra’s grove)
• Suras (gods)
• Narendra (king)

Tags

• Karma
• Svarga
• Punya-Kshaya
• Fall-from-Heaven
• Ethics

FAQs

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

It does not describe pralaya directly; it teaches the karmic principle that even heavenly status ends when merit (puṇya) is exhausted, highlighting impermanence rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

By addressing the king as rājasiṃha/narendra, it implicitly instructs rulers to pursue dharma and sustainable merit—recognizing that worldly or heavenly enjoyments are temporary when not supported by ongoing righteous conduct.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated in this verse; its focus is ethical-philosophical (puṇya, fall from svarga, and divine compassion).