Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Fall

Devanagari script

अप्राप्यं दीर्घमायुश्च यः प्राप्तो विकृतिं चरेत् तप्येत यदि तत्कृत्वा चरेत्सोग्रं तपस्ततः //

Transliteration

aprāpyaṃ dīrghamāyuśca yaḥ prāpto vikṛtiṃ caret tapyeta yadi tatkṛtvā caretsograṃ tapastataḥ //

Translation

If someone has obtained what is seldom attained—a long span of life—yet lives in a perverted way, then, having acted so, he should feel remorse and thereafter undertake severe austerity (tapas).

Word by Word

• aprāpyaṃ: hard to obtain/rarely attained

• dīrgham: long

• āyuḥ: life-span

• ca: and

• yaḥ: who

• prāptaḥ: has obtained

• vikṛtim: perversion, moral deformity, corrupt conduct

• caret: should practice/engages in

• tapyeta: should be tormented with remorse/should do penance

• yadi: if

• tat-kṛtvā: having done that

• caret: should undertake/should practice

• sa-ugram: very intense, severe

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance

• tataḥ: thereafter/then.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, in the didactic dialogue frame typical of the Matsya Purana)

Entities Mentioned

• Ayus (life-span)
• Tapas (austerity/penance)

Tags

• Dharma
• Tapas
• Penance
• Ethics
• Self-correction

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a moral instruction stressing that a rare human advantage—long life—should not be wasted in corrupt conduct, and that wrongdoing calls for remorse and corrective tapas.

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

For a king or householder, the teaching is practical: longevity and power are meaningful only when governed by dharma. If one falls into harmful habits or unjust actions, one should acknowledge the fault and adopt disciplined self-restraint and expiatory practices to restore righteousness.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu or temple-building rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the general principle of prāyaścitta-like correction—remorse followed by disciplined austerity to counter prior moral deviation.