Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Fall

Devanagari script

*ययातिरुवाच नु तुल्यतेजाः सुकृतं हि कामये योगक्षेमं पार्थिवात्पार्थिवः सन् दैवादेशादापदं प्राप्य विद्वांश् चरेन्नृशंसं हि न जातु राजा //

Transliteration

*yayātiruvāca nu tulyatejāḥ sukṛtaṃ hi kāmaye yogakṣemaṃ pārthivātpārthivaḥ san daivādeśādāpadaṃ prāpya vidvāṃś carennṛśaṃsaṃ hi na jātu rājā //

Translation

Yayāti said: “O you of equal splendor, I seek the merit born of righteous deeds (sukṛta) and the secure well-being of the realm (yogakṣema). Though a king is a king among kings, if by the ordinance of fate he falls into calamity, the wise should not act with cruelty; a ruler must never be ruthless.”

Word by Word

• yayātiḥ uvāca: Yayāti said

• nu: indeed/now

• tulyatejāḥ: O one of equal radiance (equal prowess)

• sukṛtam: merit, virtuous deed

• hi: indeed

• kāmaye: I desire/seek

• yogakṣemam: welfare and security (prosperity and protection)

• pārthivāt: from/among kings (earth-lords)

• pārthivaḥ san: being a king

• daivādeśāt: by divine ordinance/by fate’s command

• āpadam: calamity, misfortune

• prāpya: having met/attained

• vidvān: the wise man

• caret: should conduct/should act

• nṛśaṁsam: cruelty, ruthlessness

• hi: indeed

• na jātu: never at all

• rājā: a king

Speaker

• King Yayāti

Entities Mentioned

• Yayāti
• Rājā (the ideal king)
• Daiva (fate/divine ordinance)

Tags

• Rajadharma
• Kingship
• Ethics
• Adversity
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to Rajadharma-style instruction, stressing that even in misfortune caused by fate, a king must avoid cruelty.

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

It teaches rājadharma: a ruler should aim at the realm’s yogakṣema (welfare and security) and remain compassionate and restrained—never becoming ruthless even when political fortune turns against him.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu/temple-architecture or ritual procedure is stated here; the technical term yogakṣema is political-ethical, referring to protection and prosperity rather than construction rules.