Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

*इन्द्र उवाच सतां सकाशे पतितो ऽसि राजंश् च्युतः प्रतिष्ठां यत्र लब्धासि भूयः एवं विदित्वा तु पुनर्ययाते न ते ऽवमान्याः सदृशः श्रेयसे च //

Transliteration

*indra uvāca satāṃ sakāśe patito 'si rājaṃś cyutaḥ pratiṣṭhāṃ yatra labdhāsi bhūyaḥ evaṃ viditvā tu punaryayāte na te 'vamānyāḥ sadṛśaḥ śreyase ca //

Translation

Indra said: “O King, you have fallen into the presence of the righteous, having slipped from the station you had gained. Knowing this, O Yayāti, do not disdain them; for in seeking the highest good, they are your equals.”

Word by Word

• इन्द्र उवाच: Indra said

• सताम्: of the virtuous (the good)

• सकाशे: in the presence/near

• पतितः असि: you have fallen

• राजन्: O king

• च्युतः: slipped/fallen away

• प्रतिष्ठाम्: position, rank, heavenly standing

• यत्र: which/that (from which)

• लब्धासि: you had attained

• भूयः: again/once more (emphatic)

• एवम्: thus

• विदित्वा: having known/understood

• तु: indeed

• पुनः: again

• ययाते: O Yayāti

• न: not

• ते: by you/your

• अवमान्याः: to be disrespected/despised

• सदृशः: equal, comparable

• श्रेयसे: for the highest good, true welfare

• च: and

Speaker

• Indra

Entities Mentioned

• Indra
• King Yayati
• Sat (the virtuous/righteous)

Tags

• Yayati
• Rajadharma
• Humility
• Merit (Punya)
• Fall from Heaven

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on moral causality—how earned status can be lost and how one should respond ethically after a fall.

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

It teaches rajadharma through humility: a ruler who loses power or prestige should still honor the virtuous, recognizing that true welfare (śreyas) depends on respect for righteousness rather than pride in rank.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-building or ritual procedure is stated here; the significance is ethical—avoiding avamāna (disdain) toward sādhus and the righteous.