Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — Yayāti’s Forest-Renunciation

Devanagari script

*शौनक उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि ययातेरुत्तमां कथाम् दिवि चेह च पुण्यार्थां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् //

Transliteration

*śaunaka uvāca hanta te kathayiṣyāmi yayāteruttamāṃ kathām divi ceha ca puṇyārthāṃ sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm //

Translation

Śaunaka said: “Come then—I shall tell you the excellent tale of King Yayāti, a meritorious narrative that brings spiritual benefit both here and in heaven, and that destroys all sins.”

Word by Word

• शौनकः (śaunakaḥ): Śaunaka

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• हन्त (hanta): come then / indeed

• ते (te): to you

• कथयिष्यामि (kathayiṣyāmi): I shall narrate

• ययातेः (yayāteḥ): of Yayāti

• उत्तमाम् (uttamām): excellent, noble

• कथाम् (kathām): story, account

• दिवि (divi): in heaven

• च (ca): and

• इह (iha): here (in this world)

• च (ca): also

• पुण्यार्थाम् (puṇyārthām): productive of merit / for sacred benefit

• सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् (sarva-pāpa-praṇāśinīm): destroyer of all sins.

Speaker

• Śaunaka

Entities Mentioned

• Śaunaka
• King Yayāti

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Punya
• Sin-destruction
• Itihasa-style narrative

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya; it frames the Yayāti narrative as spiritually beneficial and sin-destroying, emphasizing the salvific power of hearing sacred history.

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

By introducing Yayāti’s “excellent tale,” the verse signals that royal histories in the Matsya Purana function as ethical instruction—encouraging kings and householders to pursue dharma and merit (puṇya) and to avoid actions that generate sin.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu or temple-architecture rule is stated here; the ritual takeaway is the phala-śruti tone—hearing/reciting such a purāṇic account is presented as a meritorious act that removes sin.