Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच ततः पपातामरराजजुष्टात् पुण्याल्लोकात्पतमानं ययातिम् सम्प्रेक्ष्य राजर्षिवरो ऽष्टकस् तम् उवाच सद्धर्मविधानगोप्ता //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca tataḥ papātāmararājajuṣṭāt puṇyāllokātpatamānaṃ yayātim samprekṣya rājarṣivaro 'ṣṭakas tam uvāca saddharmavidhānagoptā //

Translation

Śaunaka said: Then Yayāti, falling from that meritorious world cherished by Indra, was seen descending; and the royal sage Aṣṭaka—guardian of the ordinances of true dharma—addressed him.

Word by Word

• śaunaka uvāca: Śaunaka said

• tataḥ: then/thereupon

• papāta: fell

• amara-rāja-juṣṭāt: from that realm favored/inhabited by the king of the immortals (Indra)

• puṇyāt lokāt: from the meritorious/heavenly world

• patamānam: falling/descending

• yayātim: (King) Yayāti

• samprekṣya: having seen/observed

• rājarṣi-varaḥ: the श्रेष्ठ royal sage

• aṣṭakaḥ: Aṣṭaka

• tam: him

• uvāca: spoke/addressed

• sat-dharma-vidhāna-goptā: protector/guardian of the regulations and establishment of true dharma

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Yayāti
• Indra (Amararāja)
• Aṣṭaka

Tags

• Dynasties
• Karma
• Heaven
• Dharma
• Royal Sages

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it highlights the Puranic moral law that even heavenly enjoyment is temporary when merit (puṇya) is exhausted, causing a fall from Indra’s favored realm.

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

By calling Aṣṭaka a “guardian of the ordinances of true dharma,” the verse frames kingship as dharma-protection: rulers and householders must uphold righteous conduct and codes (vidhāna), not merely seek reward or status.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu/temple-architecture or ritual procedure is stated directly; the verse functions as narrative setup for ethical instruction (dharma-upadeśa) rather than Vastuvidyā.