Shloka 13

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Fall

Devanagari script

*प्रतर्दन उवाच पृच्छामि त्वां स्पृहणीयरूप प्रतर्दनो ऽहं यदि मे सन्ति लोकाः यद्यन्तरिक्षे यदि वा दिवि श्रुताः क्षेत्रज्ञं त्वां तस्य धर्मस्य मन्ये //

Transliteration

*pratardana uvāca pṛcchāmi tvāṃ spṛhaṇīyarūpa pratardano 'haṃ yadi me santi lokāḥ yadyantarikṣe yadi vā divi śrutāḥ kṣetrajñaṃ tvāṃ tasya dharmasya manye //

Translation

Pratardana said: “I ask you, O one of desirable form. I am Pratardana. If there are worlds (destinies) for me—whether spoken of in the mid-region (antarikṣa) or established in heaven—then I regard you as the Knower of the Field (kṣetrajña), and I consider your teaching to be the highest Dharma.”

Word by Word

• प्रतर्दन उवाच: Pratardana said

• पृच्छामि: I ask/inquire

• त्वाम्: you

• स्पृहणीयरूप: of desirable/adorable form

• प्रतर्दनः अहम्: I am Pratardana

• यदि: if

• मे: for me/my

• सन्ति: there are/exist

• लोकाः: worlds/realms/destinies

• यदि: whether

• अन्तरिक्षे: in the mid-region/atmosphere

• यदि वा: or else

• दिवि: in heaven

• श्रुताः: heard of/traditionally spoken

• क्षेत्रज्ञम्: the knower of the field (Self/Consciousness)

• त्वाम्: you

• तस्य: of that

• धर्मस्य: dharma/ultimate principle

• मन्ये: I think/consider.

Speaker

• Pratardana

Entities Mentioned

• Pratardana
• Kshetrajna (Kṣetrajña)

Tags

• Kshetrajna
• Dharma
• Self-Knowledge
• Philosophy
• Liberation

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly describe Pralaya; it focuses on metaphysical inquiry—identifying the Kṣetrajña (inner knower) as central to the highest Dharma beyond worldly destinations like heaven.

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

By placing the Kṣetrajña (inner Self/knower) above the pursuit of heavenly worlds, the verse frames righteous duty as grounded in self-knowledge—guiding a king or householder to rule/act ethically without being driven solely by reward-based aims.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated here; the key takeaway is philosophical—recognition of the Kṣetrajña as the basis of true Dharma.