Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yayati’s Fall from Heaven and the Greatness of the Righteous

Devanagari script

* इन्द्र उवाच सर्वाणि कार्याणि समाप्य राजन् गृहान्परित्यज्य वनं गतो ऽसि तत्त्वां पृच्छामि नहुषस्य पुत्र केनापि तुल्यस्तपसा ययाते //

Transliteration

* indra uvāca sarvāṇi kāryāṇi samāpya rājan gṛhānparityajya vanaṃ gato 'si tattvāṃ pṛcchāmi nahuṣasya putra kenāpi tulyastapasā yayāte //

Translation

Indra said: “O King, having completed all your duties and abandoning your home, you have gone to the forest. I ask you the truth, O son of Nahusha—O Yayāti, by what austerity (tapas) have you become equal to the greatest, unsurpassed by anyone?”

Word by Word

• इन्द्र (indra): Indra

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• सर्वाणि (sarvāṇi): all

• कार्याणि (kāryāṇi): duties/acts to be done

• समाप्य (samāpya): having completed

• राजन् (rājan): O king

• गृहान् (gṛhān): homes/household

• परित्यज्य (parityajya): having abandoned

• वनम् (vanam): forest

• गतः असि (gataḥ asi): you have gone

• तत्त्वाम् (tattvām): the truth/reality (as it is)

• पृच्छामि (pṛcchāmi): I ask/inquire

• नहुषस्य (nahuṣasya): of Nahusha

• पुत्र (putra): O son

• केनापि (kenāpi): by anyone/with anyone (instrumental sense: by what/whom)

• तुल्यः (tulyaḥ): equal

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity/ascetic power

• ययाते (yayāte): O Yayāti (vocative usage in context).

Speaker

• Indra

Entities Mentioned

• Indra
• Yayati
• Nahusha

Tags

• Dynasties
• Renunciation
• Tapas
• Rajadharma
• Genealogy

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on a royal-ethical narrative where Indra questions Yayāti’s renunciation and the spiritual power (tapas) behind it.

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

It reflects the ideal sequence: a king fulfills worldly responsibilities (kāryāṇi) and then may renounce the household to go to the forest (vanaprastha), indicating a dharmic transition from governance to ascetic pursuit.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple architecture, or specific ritual procedure is mentioned; the key takeaway is the Purāṇic emphasis on tapas and life-stage renunciation rather than architectural rules.