Shloka 1

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Forest-Renunciation

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच एवं स नाहुषो राजा ययातिः पुत्रमीप्सितम् राज्ये ऽभिषिच्य मुदितो वानप्रस्थो ऽभवन्मुनिः //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca evaṃ sa nāhuṣo rājā yayātiḥ putramīpsitam rājye 'bhiṣicya mudito vānaprastho 'bhavanmuniḥ //

Translation

Śaunaka said: Thus King Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, having joyfully consecrated his desired son to the kingship by royal anointing, entered the vānaprastha stage—the forest-life—and became like a muni, a sage-ascetic.

Word by Word

• śaunakaḥ uvāca: Śaunaka said

• evaṃ: thus

• saḥ: he

• nāhuṣaḥ: (son) of Nahuṣa / belonging to Nahuṣa

• rājā: king

• yayātiḥ: Yayāti

• putram: son

• īpsitam: desired, wished-for

• rājye: in the kingdom / to sovereignty

• abhiṣicya: having anointed, having consecrated (as king)

• muditaḥ: delighted, joyful

• vānaprasthaḥ: one in the forest-dweller stage of life

• abhavat: became

• muniḥ: sage, ascetic.

Speaker

• Śaunaka (addressing the narrating sage in the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• Nahuṣa
• Yayāti

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Rajadharma
• Ashrama
• Yayati

FAQs

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

This verse does not discuss pralaya; it focuses on dynastic history and the life-stage transition of a king after installing his heir.

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

It highlights a Rajadharma ideal: a king should ensure stable succession by consecrating a qualified heir, then—having fulfilled worldly obligations—may enter vānaprastha, moving toward renunciation and spiritual discipline.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The key ritual element is royal consecration (abhiṣeka/abhiṣecana) of the heir; no Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated in this verse.