Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच नाहं देवमनुष्येषु न गन्धर्वमहर्षिषु आत्मनस्तपसा तुल्यं कंचित्पश्यामि वासव //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca nāhaṃ devamanuṣyeṣu na gandharvamaharṣiṣu ātmanastapasā tulyaṃ kaṃcitpaśyāmi vāsava //

Translation

Yayāti said: “O Vāsava (Indra), among the gods and men, nor among the Gandharvas and great sages, I see no one equal to me in the austerity (tapas) performed by my own self.”

Word by Word

• ययातिः (yayātiḥ): Yayāti

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• न (na): not

• अहम् (aham): I

• देव-मनुष्येषु (deva-manuṣyeṣu): among gods and humans

• न (na): nor

• गन्धर्व-महर्षिषु (gandharva-maharṣiṣu): among Gandharvas and great ṛṣis

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ): of/by myself, of my own person

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity, ascetic power

• तुल्यम् (tulyam): equal

• कंचित् (kaṃcit): anyone (at all)

• पश्यामि (paśyāmi): I see

• वासव (vāsava): O Vāsava, Indra

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Devas
• Humans (Manuṣyas)
• Gandharvas
• Maharṣis

Tags

• Dynasties
• Tapas
• Pride
• Indra
• Puranic dialogue

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on King Yayāti’s self-assessment of his spiritual merit (tapas) in a dialogue addressed to Indra.

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

It highlights a common ethical theme in the Matsya Purana: rulers may cultivate tapas and merit, but self-exalting comparison can signal pride—implying that true royal dharma requires humility and restraint alongside spiritual discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, iconography, or ritual procedure is specified here; the verse is centered on austerity (tapas) and comparative spiritual status.