Shloka 21
Matsya Purana — Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Dialogue: Seniority
अकस्माद्वै क्षीणपुण्यो ययातिः पतत्यसौ पुण्यकृत्पुण्यकीर्तिः तानब्रुवं पतमानस्तदाहं सतां मध्ये निपतेयं कथं नु //
akasmādvai kṣīṇapuṇyo yayātiḥ patatyasau puṇyakṛtpuṇyakīrtiḥ tānabruvaṃ patamānastadāhaṃ satāṃ madhye nipateyaṃ kathaṃ nu //
Suddenly, Yayāti—his store of merit exhausted—began to fall, though he had performed meritorious deeds and was famed for virtue. As I was falling, I then spoke to them: “How indeed could I descend into the midst of the righteous?”
FAQs
This verse does not describe pralaya; it teaches the moral law of karma: even a celebrated king falls from heavenly status when accumulated merit (puṇya) is spent.
It underscores that reputation and past good works are not permanent guarantees; rulers and householders must sustain dharma continuously—through restraint, charity, and right conduct—rather than relying on past merit alone.
No Vāstu or temple-ritual rule is stated in this verse; its focus is ethical-philosophical: the exhaustion of puṇya and the humility of not wishing to fall among the truly righteous.